ABSTRACT
The Small Center has over a decade of work in public interest design, advocacy, and design/build as a university-based design center. The work of the Small Center is characterized by deep engagement, cross disciplinary collaboration, outcomes, and a commitment to local issues and community-driven ideas. The Small Center brings together creative makers and doers working for a better city through design. This chapter focuses on the program’s philosophy, curriculum, pedagogical goal, challenges, and successes. Additionally, Sankofa Mobile Market—a transformable truck-based produce stand—serves as an example of a typical Small Center project scale, engagement process, and outcome. Formerly known as Tulane City Center, The Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design at Tulane School of Architecture is addressing a gap in the design field by providing technical services for organizations and groups traditionally underserved by the design professions, expanding the role of designers and the impact of good design.
