The Work Department is an integrative design studio based in Detroit.
We co-create programs, processes, and materials with organizations to deepen relationships and amplify social impact. Our practice integrates people-centered design, systems thinking, equity, and strategy.
Building Pathways to Economic Opportunity with Feeding America
Celebrating Title IX’s 50th Anniversary with Project Play Southeast Michigan
Cody Rouge & Warrendale Youth-Centric Neighborhood Framework
Women of Banglatown Visioning
Inclusive Values for Detroit: City of Design
A Field Guide For Working with Lots
Collective Problem-Solving for a More Equitable Food System with FoodLab Detroit
Six Years of Allied Media Conference Branding and Communications
Footwork: The Choreography of Collaboration
Since 2010, we’ve worked with hundreds of clients on projects of all sizes.
Affirmations
Amicci's Pizza
Astral Weeks
City of Hamtramck
City of Roseville
CLASS Agency
Commotion Wireless
Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Damon J Keith Center for Civil Rights
Davidson College
Design Fabrications
Detroit Creative Corridor Center
Detroit Equity Action Lab
Detroit Farm and Garden
Detroit Food Academy
Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Lives
Detroit Promise Zone Authority
Detroit Regional Chamber
Detroit Revitalization Fellows
Detroit Sound Conservancy
Detroit Waldorf
DiClemente Siegel Design
Dooney & Bourke
Early Works
Eastside Community Network
EcoWorks
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Ford Motor Company
Global Detroit
Great Lakes Environmental Law Center
Growing Hope
Hamtramck Downtown Development Authority
Healthy Kids Healthy Michigan
Land and Water Works Coalition
Make Food Not Waste
Metro Matters
Michigan State University
Mindful Detroit
MIT Center for Civic Media
MOCAD
Mt Elliot Makerspace
Multiplier Advisors
Neighborhood Service Organization
New America, Resilient Communities
New Solutions Group
On Board
Project Play Southeast Michigan - 1 2
Project Play Western New York
ProsperUs
Public Power Project
Race and Justice Reporting Initiative
Root of Two
Safe Water Engineering
School for Poetic Computation
Slows
The James & Grace Lee Boggs School
Tostada Magazine
Tour de Troit
Trust for Public Land
University of Michigan
Villages CDC
Voices from the Grassroots
Waldorf Institute of Southeast Michigan
Western Wayne Food Policy Council
Wheelhouse Detroit
Photos and project details being added over time