Public Workshop

A cheerleader of possibility, Public Workshop is dedicated to helping individuals, schools and communities achieve great things through design.

We create projects, tools and events that help people positively change the places they live, work and play.

Although the name may be new, Public Workshop represents fourteen very rich years of innovative work in K-12 design education, community design-build work and helping organizations innovate. Whether developing and leading unique participatory community design processes for the Hester Street Collaborative, redesigning the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum’s high school neighborhood research program to be more action oriented; creating a process that empowered 350 K-12 students at the Sunshine School in rural Alabama to redesign and rebuild their decrepit school; or helping start the Charter High School for Architecture and Design in Philadelphia, one of the first high schools for architecture and design in the United States, Public Workshop has always sought to challenge, and redefine the boundaries of what’s possible.

Fundamental to the work that we do is the belief that good design; ownership and empowerment; innovation; and having fun are not mutually exclusive.

Central to our approach is the idea that ‘with’ is better than ‘for’. We have routinely found that this attitude and approach leads to our very best work.

And although our work is not in the least bit limited to children, we believe they are some of the most powerful agents for positive change in the places and organizations where we work. With this in mind we constantly endeavor to rethink how youth can be engaged in making our schools, workplaces and cities.

What In The World Do We Do? How Might We Be Able To Help You Do Stellar Things?

We help organizations and communities innovate. We work closely with our clients to create unique tools, systems and branding mechanisms for better engaging their neighbors, co-workers or clients. We help organizations create innovative programs that bolster their mission, reach and impact. And yes, on occasion…..when necessary…..we’ve been known to do some pretty boisterous and rousing public speaking. Yep, we can even get your grandma on her feet whooping and hollerin’.

We help teachers, schools and major institutions teach better. We help students achieve fantastic things that they never thought were possible. We help designers better interact with children, schools and communities so they can make better buildings, and public spaces. We help organizations rethink how they encourage their staff to learn and innovate.

We design beautifully functional things. We may be superlative educators, facilitators and cheerleaders, but ya’ know what? In our heart of hearts, we are designers, makers, builders and inveterate tinkerers. We build things, we brand things and are at our very happiest when designing WITH others.

Who Is Public Workshop?

Alex Gilliam, Director Download Bio

alex@publicworkshop.us

Meegan Beddoe, Designer

meegan@publicworkshop.us

Brenda Gamboa, Intern Extraordinaire

And a host of fantastic collaborators ranging from individuals to architecture firms to organizations such as the Center For Urban Pedagogy to major institutions like the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Interested in collaborating with Public Workshop?

Have a great idea or project you would like to share? Want to stay abreast of our latest endeavors,musings or explorations?

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/publicworkshop

Or send us an email: alex@publicworkshop.us