Photo of Bagay at Buhay pop-up gallery in November 2021. People gathered in an art gallery, seen through a window, with artworks and spotlights visible inside.

lowercase is a design lab & studio on a mission to create a just and dignified world. 

Outdoor block party with people, trees, and buildings in a city street, featuring a kiosk with banners for a design festival.

We ally & conspire with mission-aligned communities, organizations, and civic leaders to co-design solutions that drive meaningful social impact. 

Two people working at a table with colorful paper cutouts and markers, in preparation for a merchant meeting for the redevelopment of Avenue Market in Baltimore.

Design lab:

We honor and depend on lived experiences of the communities we serve to guide us in making strategic decisions.

Flyers and a pamphlet on a table promoting the Sanaa Center, with a sign saying "Help Us Build the Sanaa Center" and a chart titled "Who's in the House?" discussing identity categories.
A participatory design activity where people placed images of vendors they want to see on the blueprint of Avenue Market.
Busy pedestrian street with trees, informational display, people walking, shops with hanging plants, and a park map under clear blue sky.

We transform data, research, and lived experiences into clear, accessible and impactful materials.

Design Studio:

Illustrated map featuring a detailed urban area in black and red lines, showing roads and city layout.
Isometric urban map with red-highlighted areas and a central roadway. Data visualization of how to lessen the burden of truck traffic in Port Morris Bronx if we revitalized old marinas in the area.

Some of our past & present collaborators

Logo of The MIT Press, featuring vertical black lines and the text 'The MIT Press' beside it.
JOLTAGE branding logo with the words 'IGNITING SOCIAL INNOVATION' below.
The word "ignite" in lowercase white letters on a black background.
Cover of a publication titled 'Multiscale Recipes' with a logo of interconnected circles, describing an academic research network on wasted food.
Logo of Syracuse University with an orange letter 'S' and the text 'Syracuse University' in orange and black.
Colorful logo for Black Arts District featuring the text 'B4D' and 'black arts district' underneath.
Logo of the Association of Filipino Scientists in America (AFSA), featuring a stylized plant with leaves and a small flag on the stem, with the text 'AFSA' and 'Association of Filipino Scientists in America'.
Simplified line drawing of a person holding a microphone, with a red circle resembling a spotlight or light source in the background.
Logo for SHARE Baltimore in orange, red, and gray colors.
Logo of Ignite Capital, a subsidiary of Innovation Works, featuring a yellow lightning bolt, stylized text, and a small decorative icon.
Text graphic reading 'The ICA / Social Design' with a slash separating the words.
Logo with circular text reading 'Leaders Who Connect & Inspire LLC' surrounding a stylized figure with a circle head and abstract arms and legs.
Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce logo with overlapping blue and pink circles.
Baltimore Public Markets sign with the words 'Baltimore' in a dark blue rectangle on top and 'Public Markets' in an orange rectangle below.
School emblem featuring an eagle's head with a yellow beak inside a shield, surrounded by blue laurel branches, with text that reads 'Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy' and a motto 'Live Love Learn'.
Barnard College logo in navy blue text on a white background.
Event poster for 'Bagay at Buhay,' occurring from October 29 to November 28, with a red background and abstract floral line art.
Logo for Wildseed Gear Library featuring stylized mountains, a tent, a sunrise or sunset, and bold text.
Text that reads 'the Neighborhood Design Center' in black font on a white background.
Graphic design with the words 'DFA' in large white letters on a dark gray background, and an orange star below the first letter.
A street scene at night with a sign that reads "Give what you can. Take what you need." The street is lined with parked cars, overhead lights, and trees.

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