There are two opportunities to collaborate with CUP:

Work on a Making Public Policy project
Making Policy Public projects are intensive 8-10 month collaborations with CUP and a community organization that result in a fold-out poster that breaks down and demystifies a complex social justice issue. We’re looking for four individuals or teams with strengths and experience in information organization, typography, and using different visuals including (but not limited to!) illustration or photography. Designers receive an honorarium of $5,000 for their participation. Applications are due by Monday, September 14th at 12pm EST. Click here to learn more!

Be a Public Access Design Fellow
The Public Access Design Fellowship is a yearlong professional development program for emerging designers. Over the course of the year, a cohort of Fellows meet every other month to learn about community-engaged design practices, including relevant topics like CUP’s methodology, anti-oppression practices in design, and community organizing. During these meetings, Fellows have the opportunity to connect with prominent visual designers working in social change, community organizers, and other CUP collaborators. Fellows receive an honorarium of $200 for their participation. Three to four Fellows will also have the opportunity to collaborate with CUP and a community partner to create a visually accessible print tool through the Public Access Design program, and receive an additional honorarium of $3,000. Applications are due by Monday, August 31st at 12pm EST. Learn more here!

Why CUP?

With CUP, designers will learn how to design with and for historically underrepresented communities. CUP collaborations are never just over-the-fence projects. The entire team–CUP, the community organization, and designers–work together to shape the content from start to finish. And the end results have meaningful impacts. CUP projects have contributed to real wins for communities across the city, and reach over 150,000 individuals each year, from immigrants navigating health insurance to tenants holding landlords accountable in housing court. Our list of all-star alumni includes Glen Cummings, Silas Munro, Candy Chang, Lizania Cruz, The Public Society, and Yeju Choi, to name a few. (Get to know more of our stellar design partners here!) CUP projects have also been featured in exhibitions at The Drawing Center, Cooper Hewitt, and more.

Not sure which program is right for you?
Join our upcoming webinar on August 5th at 5pm EST to learn which program is the best fit for you – register here!