Grassroots DesignFest: Designing for Community, Together

For the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC), Grassroots DesignFest represents what happens when Baltimore’s creative talent, nonprofit leadership, and community-centered design come together with intention and care. 

Now in its 8th year, Grassroots DesignFest returns on Saturday, April 11, 2026, and we are proud to once again serve as a core partner alongside the T. Rowe Price Foundation and Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Hosted at MICA and inspired by the hackathon model, Grassroots DesignFest is a one-day, highly facilitated design festival that pairs volunteer design teams with Baltimore-based nonprofits to deliver meaningful, pro bono design support fast, focused, and grounded in real organizational needs.

Why DesignFest Matters

Many nonprofits are doing critical work with limited time, staff, and resources. Design challenges like branding, websites, signage, communications, and placemaking often get pushed aside, even when they directly affect visibility, fundraising, and community engagement.

Grassroots DesignFest is built to meet that reality. By concentrating energy into a single day, nonprofits walk away with tangible tools and actionable concepts they can put to work immediately. Post-event feedback consistently shows high satisfaction, with nonprofit leaders citing access to expertise they would not otherwise be able to afford.

NDC’s Role: Facilitation, Equity, and Impact

At NDC, our role is to ensure that design support is not only creative, but equitable, practical, and aligned with community priorities. We help shape project scopes, facilitate team collaboration, and support nonprofit leaders throughout the day so the outcomes are realistic and implementable.

This year, more than 100 volunteer designers including seasoned professionals, MICA alumni, and students will collaborate with 15 Baltimore nonprofits working across arts and culture, youth development, human services, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood revitalization. Projects were selected through a competitive process to ensure strong alignment between organizational needs and achievable outcomes.

New in 2026: Placemaking Design Sprint Pilot

This year, NDC is piloting a placemaking design sprint, expanding the DesignFest model beyond branding and communications into physical, place-based design.

The pilot will support L.I.F.E. Ministries in Brooklyn, Maryland, advancing an early-stage concept for a community farmers’ market. Designers, planners, and community stakeholders will collaborate to develop site concepts, public-facing materials, and placemaking strategies that move the idea closer to implementation.

Looking Ahead

We’re excited to see the ideas, connections, and momentum that emerge on April 11 and even more excited to see how nonprofits carry that work forward long after the day ends. Learn more!