Community Design Studio

Community Design Studio provides professional design services to a range of clients—public, private, and nonprofit—whose projects contribute to community well-being and positive social impact. Operating as both a multidisciplinary design studio and an educational platform, CDS engages students, stakeholders, and clients on real-world projects under the direction of practicing designers, advancing social and environmental goals through applied design practice.

At the heart of CDS is an interdisciplinary co-design process where clients, students, and professional faculty contribute equally, each bringing unique knowledge and perspectives to the table. This approach moves beyond the traditional client–designer hierarchy to build shared authorship and deeper engagement. Projects are centered on human experience and community needs, demonstrating how design can serve as a tool for social sustainability and meaningful impact.

What students gain

Students who participate in CDS gain direct, hands-on experience working with real clients and professional design teams on projects that extend beyond traditional coursework. Each project introduces students to unique community and organizational needs, offering exposure to diverse design challenges and interdisciplinary collaboration. Participation allows students to gain qualified hours towards professional internship requirements, enhancing curricular studies, diversifying portfolios, strengthening resumes, preparing students for design agency in practice.

Through CDS, students also will have the opportunity to pursue certification and specialized training in areas such as co-design facilitation, human-centered design, public engagement and participatory charrette methods, equipping them with professional credentials recognized across the design industry. Together these experiences build confidence, leadership and the ability to translate design education into meaningful impact.

University resources for co-design

Within the university setting, the impact of CDS is enhanced from resources that broaden the reach of traditional design. Drawing from depth of knowledge and expertise, specialized facilities, and interdisciplinary networks across Western Michigan University, every step of the co-design process is strengthened through shared learning, collaboration, and applied research for meaningful, community-driven outcomes. 

Anticipated outcomes

• Enhanced capacity and empowerment: Community partners gain meaningful, actionable results: developmental frameworks, spatial strategies, schematic designs and strategic recommendations to help articulate needs, envision solutions, and pursue funding or implementation.
• Social, cultural, and economic vitality: Projects serve as pilot examples demonstrating how design can advance social connection, cultural expression, and local economic vitality, building precedent for positive community change.
• Professional qualifications: Students earn professional credentials in community design and co-design facilitation, advancing both their qualifications and their capacity to lead meaningful, community-centered work.

Directing faculty

Kimberly Buchholz, M.Arch
Founding Director, Community Design Studio (CDS) 
Program Coordinator & Professional Faculty Specialist of Design Practice, Interior Architecture & Design