Participants who are accepted and who meet low-to-moderate (LMI) income criteria for their county receive a full tuition waiver, and are eligible to apply for a seed capital grant in Design Catalyst’s Phase 2.

*Note: Design Catalyst grants are dispersed as reimbursement grants. Seed funding is not guaranteed by acceptance into the Design Catalyst Program. Grant funding requires a separate application process, and is contingent upon available funding.

Dara Benno is a transdisciplinary designer committed to advancing sustainable systems that address both environmental and social challenges. Her life-centered approach is rooted in the intersection of applied art and design thinking, focusing her practice on addressing complex issues through a strategic, holistic lens. Through her integration of a systems-thinking mindset with a hands-on creative practice, Dara designs accessible models, objects, and experiences that spark critical thought and engage individuals and communities in shaping a more resilient future.

Deon Marie is the founder of The Style Studio and brings over a decade of experience in the beauty and fashion industry. Trained by leading wardrobe stylists, she has assisted on editorial shoots for some of fashion’s most renowned publications, including Vogue Magazine. Deeply connected to both her Jamaican heritage and her Newport, Rhode Island roots, Deon effortlessly bridges cultures and connects with clients from all walks of life—bringing authenticity, elegance, and confidence to every styling experience.

Haoying is an object designer exploring design through the lens of global Indigenous materials  and technologies. Her work seeks to celebrate the materials that supported early human  development and reintroduce them into contemporary design as a way to reconnect with both  our roots and the natural world. 

Upon graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, Haoying narrowed her material  focus to gourds—one of the first plants domesticated by humans, which hold cultural  significance across the globe. This exploration serves as a reflection on her cross-cultural  background and a way to deepen embodied and inherited understanding through objects.

Jimmy Morgan (he/they) is a figure skating coach, choreographer, and creative whose work centers inclusion, artistic exploration, and skater autonomy. Through a bold, human-centered approach, Jimmy helps skaters develop physical and emotional awareness, artistic identity, and the confidence to define success on their own terms. His advocacy extends beyond the rink through a growing presence on social media, where they spark dialogue around equity and authenticity in the sport. He currently serves as co-VP of American Ice Theatre and as an ambassador for Athlete Ally.

Hello, I’m Juno, also known as Sleepy Thyme Art! I’m an illustrator and merchandise designer who runs an online store and sells at events all over the country. While I work with manufacturers to get my designs professionally printed and made, all of the art used for them is designed and drawn by myself. My work is bright, colorful, fun, and joyful.

Most artists see the world differently. With my eyeglass frames the world will see you differently. Handcrafting eyeglasses is a combination of all that I have learned: the tools and techniques from art schools and opticians and thoughtful designs which are a little bit different. When someone wears my frames they get noticed. Try a pair and you will “see.”

M Arida is a Providence-based barber and owner of a private hair studio specializing in precision haircutting for masculine-of-center individuals. With a strong focus on serving the LGBTQ community, M offers an alternative to the traditional barbershop experience. Since beginning their career in 2019, M has trained with world-renowned educators and industry leaders, developing a sharp eye for detail and advanced technique. Continuing education remains central to M’s craft as does their dedication to continuous improvement. In June of 2024, M relocated from Boston to Providence and opened their private studio. Through in-depth consultations, they consider each client’s specific circumstances and goals while prioritizing suitability. M’s work combines technical excellence with a modern, tailored aesthetic. Known for delivering consistently polished results, M has built a reputation for precision and genuine care to deliver haircuts that empower clients to feel confident and authentic.

Marisa Finos is an artist and educator living in Providence. She is the sole owner and operator of Ceramics With Marisa, where she teaches beginner friendly ceramics workshops and lessons out of her studio in Pawtucket. She has over 20 years of experience working in the ceramics field, and 10 years working as an educator in a variety of settings. 

Ceramics With Marisa offers one-day handbuilding workshops and wheel throwing lessons, as well as lesson packs for folks seeking longer-term individualized instruction. Students can pay on a sliding scale, book sessions at their own convenience, and have projects and explanations tailored to students’ individual learning styles. She is passionate about helping students learn the language of clay, and enjoys facilitating opportunities to connect through art making.

Muffy Brandt is a multidisciplinary artist based in Providence, Rhode Island.  Her design business is primarily focused on hand silk screened textiles.  

Pieces include unique designs printed onto garments and small runs of yardage that  she uses to make accessories and decorative items.  

A love of all things textiles leads her to also incorporate hand dyeing, knitting, and  embellishment techniques into her limited edition offerings.  

She is regularly experimenting with ways to put designs on material and thinking of what  types of wearable and artistic applications her fabrics could be constructed into. 

Additionally, she offers a small run of cast jewelry pieces.  

BFA RISD 2004, Salt Institute for Documentary Studies 2012.

Nacho Amor is a Queer Mexican-American still life photographer and the Founder and Executive Director of GRID Gallery, a 501(c)3 non-profit. GRID Gallery stands as the nation’s first and only space exclusively championing QTBIPOC photographers, advancing their work through education and professional development. 

Amor’s photographic practice explores the intersections of race, sexuality, and culture, with work exhibited in New York City, London, Paris, Milan, and Saint Petersburg, Russia. Holding a BFA in Photography from Parsons School of Design, Amor has built a long-standing career documenting the collections of institutions such as the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Brown University.

Rachel Maeve is a Providence-based photographic artist working primarily in wet plate collodion tintypes, ambrotypes, cyanotypes, and experimental image-making processes. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and public art contexts and published on the cover of poetry collections. She is currently a Community Heritage Artist Fellow with the Providence Preservation Society, where she leads Dreams for the Waterfront, a project documenting the environmental and human stories of South Providence’s shoreline.

She has held a research fellowship at the American Antiquarian Society, studying 19th-century tintypes as artifacts of radical intimacy and memory. Her practice often blends historical research with contemporary community engagement and exhibitions that make space for collective reflection and radical imagining.

As both an artist and a parent, Rachel seeks sustainable creative rhythms that allow her to interweave artistic creation with caregiving and community collaboration.

Rebecca Zhukov is the visionary behind Blackstone River Glass Center, a full-featured glass studio nestled on the banks of the Blackstone River in Cumberland, Rhode Island. With an expansive glassblowing hot shop and dedicated studios for flameworking, slumping/fusing, stained glass, and flat glass work, the center reflects Rebecca’s passion for offering hands-on glass experiences to all.

After two years of building and fine-tuning the studio, Rebecca officially opened it to the public, and since then has taught over 2,000 classes to beginners, intermediates, and experienced students alike. She believes in making glass art accessible—welcoming students from all backgrounds, supporting experimentation, and fostering community.

Rebecca’s work and leadership have been recognized in Hey Rhody and Providence Monthly, who named her one of their Leading Ladies. Despite growing visibility, she remains deeply committed to the everyday magic of glass—seeing the wonder on someone’s face when molten glass takes shape, guiding each student, and continuing to build BRGC into a welcoming, artist-driven creative home.