Design Philadelphia

Founded in 2009, AIA Philadelphia initiated a mission to spark passion for architecture and design creating an organization and physical hub at 1218 Arch Street called the Center for Architecture . The AIA Bookstore was our public face, flanked by AIA Philadelphia Chapter and Community Design Collaborative offices. By 2013, we embraced the Design Philadelphia festival, leading to our 2016 rebranding as the Center for Architecture and Design, showcasing our multidisciplinary approach. Today, we've rebranded our organization as Design Philadelphia and renamed our building as the Center for Design Philadelphia. This critical step reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and collaboration in design.

Our Vision

Together we will create a Philadelphia that is designed for and by everyone.

Our Mission

We foster a vibrant design community from K through Career committed to excellence, inclusivity, and connections. As an invaluable partner in Philadelphia’s progress, we do that through multidisciplinary design education, our annual festival, and public programs.

Our Purpose

For Students We Will: Open doors and create economic opportunities in underserved communities, providing support and sparking new aspirations, from kindergarten through career.

For Designers We Will: Support and unify the design industry across the region; make it less siloed, more inclusive, and more consequential in Philadelphia’s progress.

For the Philadelphia Region We Will: Ignite the narrative that Philadelphia is a global design hub, charting a new course to make design by and for everyone.