Design Advocates Works to Support and Empower Independent Design Businesses in the COVID-19 Era
Design Advocates is a platform for collecting data and sharing research, and for supporting, advocating, and empowering design businesses in the era of COVID-19.The effort was formed by a group of independent design practices - architects and designers - including Michael K. Chen Architecture, Worrell Yeung, Lea Architecture, Overlay Office and Office of Tangible Space. As the coronavirus crisis has unfolded worldwide, many small businesses in the architecture, design, and creative fields have been significantly impacted. The creative sector employs a substantial population of workers, and comprises businesses that collectively make an enormous contribution to the national economy. These businesses are currently at risk and are in need of economic support for their survival now and into the future.
At the same time, many of the support measures currently in place for businesses to remain operational, retain employees, and continue their economic output are not structured to be accessible to creative businesses. Some businesses have full-time employees and payroll; but others are sole proprietorships and pass-through entities where owners collect a draw; many employ freelance and part-time workers. Many rely not on a steady stream of revenue, but irregular payments on a project or phasing basis, and are not able to quickly demonstrate a business loss. Many have long project lead times, and the loss of business activity now may translate to severe economic hardship later.
Design Advocates are a group of independent architecture and design business owners collecting data from fellow practitioners to take the measure of our collective size and economic significance, documenting some of the challenges we face now and in the near future. As local and national measures are crafted to provide economic support to small businesses in this time of national crisis, it is vitally important that creative business enterprises are not left out, and that they are able to access relief and rescue when necessary. Design Advocates are working to help make sure those businesses have a seat at the table now, and are able to thrive in the future through collective action and collaboration.
At present, Design Advocates we are specifically engaged in the following initiatives:
(1) Collecting information through an online survey querying design professionals and businesses on COVID-19 and its effect on their business to develop advocacy with professional organizations and elected representatives.
Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe7GeEIfnA8Xf_UqDjyFJ-BjAnzhx3FFPUGzg1WvK6fgBIm_w/viewform
(2) Organizing online information and listening sessions with local officials and policy makers and the design community.
(3) Workshopping with designers on approaches to sustain small design practices through partnerships with the broader business community.
(4) Collecting and sharing tips, stories, and questions submitted by designers through designadvocates.org and through social media (Instagram and Facebook).
(5) Facilitating/Moderating a weekly call with small NYC architecture firm principals discussing resources, funding, rent reductions, support, and opportunities to help locally in the fight against the virus.
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From the Organizers:
Michael K. Chen, MKCA:
"Part of our goal here is to act as an intermediary and collaborator with a broad range of design businesses. We realized that we had access to some of the resources that are available to architects and that they were applicable to a much larger community of designers."
"We've seen how design businesses are some of the first to feel the impact of economic downturns and calamities, and how long lasting the effects can be. We're actively focused not just on helping ourselves and our community survive the current moment, but also on resourcing that community to thrive in the future. COVID-19 will hopefully have an expiration date, but we're genuinely aiming to empower designers and to ensure that design has a seat at the table beyond this crisis."
Jane Lea, Lea Architecture:
"Our interest and involvement grew not out of just keeping our own businesses afloat, but providing a resource for all of our peers as well. The entire design world is impacted by the crisis (and all financial downturns) and it is difficult for smaller businesses to survive. We realized that, as a collective, we had a louder voice in supporting small design firms, their collaborators, contractors and fabricators. It is not about helping one of us.. it is about helping all of us."
Michael Yarinsky, Office of Tangible Space:
“The goal with Design Advocates is to channel the collective strain and anxiety we are feeling right now into collective action - not only to address the current situation, but to build a solid foundation for community continuity in the years ahead.”
Jejon Yeung, Worrell Yeung:
“This started off as a small forum for our own innocent and naive questions, and quickly grew into a platform that allowed us to pool collective answers and resources to share. The idea is to gather more questions and more answers and build a network of support for the many professional and creative communities we depend on.”
