Uncover your creativity, design your world

We are a mobile, nature-inspired and digitally enabled studio, bringing iPads, design tools, and traditional art-making materials into schools, public spaces, and community events. Our programs use a flexible, community-centered model to bring people together, expand access, and build creative confidence.  

We use a mobile, community-centered model to expand access to environmental design and build creative confidence in every neighbor. Our goal is to serve hundreds of families each year, helping residents understand how small design decisions support healthier neighborhoods. 

The Community Design Lab is a Maryland-based nonprofit that democratizes design through art, service learning, and community-led projects. We create hands-on opportunities for young people, families, and neighbors to shape the places where we live. Our work centers on three tracks: Design+Build for youth, Creative Mischief for children, and Second Bloom for adults and seniors, which together make design accessible, spark civic spirit, and strengthen local stewardship. Across these programs, we now serve more than three hundred students, families, and community members each year. Through our programming, families engage with hands on activities at community events, while adults participate in workshops that blend art, storytelling, and watershed learning. These programs help residents understand how small design decisions support healthier neighborhoods.