Written by Neil Brown

Each issue of Monthly Design Review will examine different ways in which design can drive social change. For the first issue, we invited some friends to join us in sharing a personal turning point – a moment that changed our view of design.

Monthly Design Review is spearheaded by Tin-Ho Chow and Aaron Perry-Zucker of Big New Ideas LLC. This publication was started as an advisory program for Big New Ideas LLC to help steer the design studio towards engaging in meaningful, world-changing projects. In the process we had many conversations with designers, entrepreneurs, community organizers, non-profits, etc, about our shared understanding of design as a vehicle for social change and our various efforts trying to get others to understand this. Soon we realized that this conversation was important and should be made available to the public after it’s had a chance to be edited.

Every third Thursday of each month, the Salt Space hosts conversations facilitated by the management and/or advisory board of Monthly Design Review. These meetings are held across the country in various cities, including Providence, San Francisco, and New York, with the goal of developing a global community of designers and individuals focused on positive change for their own local communities.

So that’s Monthly Design Review: a monthly discussion concerning the design of businesses, campaigns, non-profits, social movements and ideas. We seek to create a broader understanding of how design is changing the world. Please join the conversation at the Salt Space.