Design Yard Sale

Design Yard Sale was a month-long fundraiser in July 2020, aimed at contributing to the fight against systemic, anti-Black racism.

Design Yard Sale was a month-long fundraiser organized by a group of design students, aimed at contributing to the fight against systemic, anti-Black racism. This event was born out of a desire to participate in the movement against racism, using the skills and creativity inherent in the design field. The fundraiser involved selling and auctioning design items created by architects, designers, and students, with all proceeds directed towards organizations committed to dismantling systemic racism and promoting equity in design.

The fundraiser supported two key organizations: Colloqate Design, a multidisciplinary practice focusing on spaces of racial, social, and cultural equity, and The Bail Project, which combats the criminalization of poverty and race by paying bail for those in need. The initiative leveraged the talents of young designers who donated various items, including prints, models, and unique design objects. The platform created for this event facilitated the collection, sale, auction, and shipment of these donated items, efficiently turning creative efforts into financial support for the chosen causes.

The Design Yard Sale was a significant success, both in terms of community engagement and financial impact. It attracted donations from 356 contributors worldwide and received nearly 800 orders, raising over $126,000 for the chosen organizations. This grassroots initiative not only highlighted the power of the design community in mobilizing for a cause but also underscored the importance of conscious choices in supporting organizations and businesses that align with the values of justice and equity.

COLLABORATORS:
TESSA CRESPO
EDWARD HAN
GRACE CHEE
PARTNER ORGANIZATION: ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK
VISIT: DESIGNYARDSALE.ORG
PRESS:
FORBES
BOSTON GLOBE
FAST COMPANY
WALLPAPER
HYPEBEAST
HARVARD GAZETTE
ARCH DAILY

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This student-led initiative clearly acknowledges that racism cannot simply be fixed through design alone but through how and where we choose to spend our money. Even the selection of charitable organizations points to a fundamental understanding that in order to combat systemic racism you have to disrupt the flow of cash to institutions that promote inequality and diminish the voices of the most vulnerable.

–Jerome Byron

PROJECT

DESIGN YARD SALE