The Work Department is a design and strategy studio in Detroit. We partner with organizations across sectors and industries whose values align with ours—those who prioritize access, equity, and shared respect.
Our process is participatory and people-centered, which means:
We listen to and learn from people, especially those whose voices are often left out of decision making.
We research to gather diverse perspectives, identify opportunities, and inform solutions.
We facilitate conversations and workshops that bring people together to unlock insights and define creative solutions.
We strategize and consult to improve how organizations work.
We co-create accessible language and visuals to help organizations connect with the people they serve.
We design tools and guides to provide our partners with the resources they need.
S E R V I C E S O F F E R E D
Research
Interviews
Surveys
Focus Groups
Primary + Secondary
Facilitation
Team Building
Visioning
Program Planning
Service Design
Strategy
Engagement
Process
Growth
Evaluation
Communication
Branding
Content Creation
Storytelling
Digital + Print Design
S E L E C T C L I E N T S + P A R T N E R S
Allied Media Projects
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
CLASS Agency
Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights
Detroit Collaborative Design Center
Detroit Community Wealth Fund
Detroit Democracy Project
Detroit Equity Action Lab
Detroit Future City
Detroit Jews for Justice
Detroit Revitalization Fellows
Detroit Sound Conservancy
Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice
EcoWorks Detroit
FoodLab Detroit
Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan
Great Lakes Environmental Law Center
Henry Ford Health
Planet Detroit
Plowshares Theatre Company
Pontiac Funders Collaborative
Project Clean Slate
Project Play Southeast Michigan
Project Play Western New York
ProsperUs Detroit
Restore Northeast Detroit
Tostada Magazine
WDET 101.9FM
We the People Michigan
Women of Banglatown