ARCHEWORKS Information

Archeworks is a multidisciplinary design school with a social agenda. Founded in 1994, Archeworks is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary postgraduate design school dedicated to advancing design in the public interest and inspiring collaborative action to shape healthier, equitable, and sustainable communities. Our goal is to encourage practitioners across all design disciplines to expand their roles as collaborators, community builders, and civic innovators whose expertise brings significant public value. Archeworks has built a design education legacy addressing a wide range of environmental, health and community needs through our multidisciplinary approach to participatory design. Community design partnerships and field-based action-research projects are key components of an Archeworks educational experience. Over the past 20 years, Archeworks has collaborated with more than 45 community partners on more than 80 community-based socially responsible design projects. Our innovative design projects address a wide range of issues: community-managed micro-parks, sustainable urban food systems, stroke rehabilitation and universal design, disability education reform, water scarcity, homelessness, eldercare needs, public housing, zero waste /compost systems, and restorative spaces for healthcare professionals. Our partners include community development organizations, community centers, healthcare institutions, schools, cultural institutions, and urban farms.