From the Studio to Society: October Edition

SVA MFA Design for Social Innovation | Don Norman Design Awards, #CapTheCrossBronx Exhibit, Climate Week + more

Innovation in Practice.   School of Visual Arts MFA Design for Social Innovation is a program at the intersection of design and social change.  Through community-centered partnerships, together we can design a more healthy, just, and caring future. Keep reading to see how we practice this, forward this newsletter to someone you know, and if you're curious about designing with care, sign up for SVA's emails.   Apply today. In the Studio Meet DSI At Our October Events OCTOBER 18, 10am - 2pm CST: National Portfolio Day Chicago | REGISTER HERE OCTOBER 23, 9am - 10am EST: Ask Us Anything! Virtual Info Session *$80 application fee waiver* | REGISTER HERE   Check out our events HERE. In Community Loving the Bronx, Montefiore, & MFA DSI #CapTheCrossBronx at the Center for Architecture Capping the Cross Bronx Expressway seeks to build a public space on top of the existing highway to filter our harmful emissions from traffic, reduce the constant noise, provide new green spaces, and reconnect communities. Learn more about the project and partnership at Searching for Superpublics at the Center for Architecture. AAAAH Weekend 2025 | "We believe visibility is empowerment and connection is transformation" September 27, AAAAH Culture led their Asian Art & Culture Festival in Downtown Manhattan. AAAAH Culture was born out of recognizing a need to empower, connect, and platform emerging Asian creators in NYC. Co-founded by DSI alum Mouhui Sun & Effy Tam (MFA DSI '23). Climate Week's Marketplace of the Future Is Where To Find DSI-ers Marketplace of the Future asks us to imagine a future where we collectively put climate first. It was founded by Amer Jandali (MFA DSI '16), and celebrated its ninth year closing out Climate Week NYC.  In Society Don Norman Design Award 2025 in Excellence Goes to MFA DSI Alum Susanti Vijaykumar Susanti Vijaykumar's (MFA DSI '25) winning project, The Sapna Rannaghor Cookbook Project, co-designed with emergent bilingual Bangladeshi women, uses food and recipes as vehicles for building English proficiency and community. Singapore's President's Design Award of the Year Goes to MFA DSI Student Hao Jie Sim The NextOfKin Creatives team, including Hao Jie Sim (MFA DSI '26), won the Design of the Year 2025 Award from the President's Design Awards Singapore. Their winning design, Silver Pride Lion Troupe pilot programme, gives "seniors the chance to become lion dance performers in a safe and inclusive manner." Young Creatives Visual Art Program Pilot Initiated by School of Visual Arts MFA DSI faculty, Mari Nakano, and MFA Illustration as Visual Essay alum, Anagh Banerjee, DSI welcomed the Young Creatives Visual Arts Program, an experimental art immersion connecting local artists with young people aged 11-13 years old. This pilot program explores the potential of community-powered programs. The future needs you. Be a part of our Fall 2026 cohort. Click to Apply Now. For more info about DSI, contact us at:  dsiinfo@sva.edu Our Mailing Address: 136 W 21st St, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10011 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.