Partnering with the Community Design Studio
The Community Design Studio operates as a fee-for-service design studio within Western Michigan University. Client fees directly support project delivery and student learning, covering materials, fabrication and student training.
Funding from client projects and external grants also supports student participation in official training and certification programs through nationally recognized organizations such as National Charrette Institute (NCI), LUMA Institute, International Association for Public Participation (AP2), Design Corps/SEED Network, Creative Reaction Lab, and Project for Public Spaces (PPS). These partnerships give students the opportunity to earn professional credentials and applied experience in co-design, facilitation and community engagement.
What clients can expect
- A professional design process led by practicing faculty and supported by student designers
- A collaborative, inclusive and transparent approach grounded in co-design and research
- Professional-quality deliverables that communicate vision, support funding efforts, and guide future implementation.
- A unique opportunity to invest in both design excellence and student education, where project funds directly support learning, certification and community impact.
How it works
The CDS process is collaborative, adaptive and human-centered, designed to meet clients where they are and evolve as new insights emerge. Projects move through interconnected phases that emphasize discovery, co-creation and reflection.
- Discover and define
We begin by listening, identifying needs, challenges and opportunities through research, interviews and workshops with clients and stakeholders. - Co-create and design
Students and faculty work alongside clients in an iterative process of idea generation, prototyping and refinement. Concepts are developed collaboratively and tested against project goals and community feedback. - Deliver and document
Final design materials are produced for communication, fundraising, and continued development. - Reflect and evaluate
After completion, CDS may revisit the project to gather feedback, assess outcomes and translate lessons learned into future teaching and design practice. This phase deepens both community insight and student learning through applied research.
CDS integrates agile design management with participatory and co-design practices to create an adaptive, people-centered process. Agile methods provide the flexibility and structure needed to manage evolving projects, while co-design ensures that change is driven by community insight and shared authorship. This combination allows CDS to respond dynamically to client needs, integrate stakeholder feedback at every stage, and produce design outcomes that are both creative and grounded in lived experience.
While CDS is not a standalone nonprofit, it operates under Western Michigan University’s nonprofit education mission. Project fees are considered program-related service income rather than charitable donations.
Organizations or individuals wishing to provide additional support beyond a project’s cost may do so through the WMU Foundation, which can offer tax-deductible giving options for charitable contributions that align with the university’s policies.
Directing faculty
Kimberly Buchholz, M.Arch
Founding Director, Community Design Studio
Program Coordinator and Professional Faculty Specialist of Design Practice, Interior Architecture & Design