What 3x3 does

3×3 is a minority- and women-owned community-centered design consultancy headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, with a second entity (3×3 Design India Private Limited) in Gurgaon. Founded in 2013, the firm provides participatory design, service design, applied research, evaluation, and training services to government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and international organizations, with a primary concentration in New York City. Its core methodology is the proprietary Community-Centered Design Toolkit, supplemented by codified frameworks such as the Regenerative Governance Framework, Liberating Structures and Power-Sharing Methods, and the Trusted Design Governance Framework (co-developed with the World Wide Web Foundation and Superbloom).

The firm's commercial offerings fall into three streams: (1) fee-for-service consulting engagements (multi-month project contracts secured through direct relationships, RFPs, and partnerships with implementation firms such as Buro Happold, WSP, WXY Architecture, and CUNY CSCD), spanning urban planning, transit, housing, public health, sustainability, social services, and digital governance; (2) paid training programs (Community-Centered Design 101, the two-day Community-Centered Design Workshop, Inclusive Facilitation Fundamentals, and monthly Community-Centered Design Huddles, with multi-day collaborations with AIA New York); and (3) applied research and evaluation engagements producing landscape assessments, feasibility studies, and program evaluations.

3×3 has delivered measurable stakeholder engagement outcomes — including 2,000+ residents engaged on the Little Roady autonomous vehicle pilot in Providence, ~500 stakeholders for Battery Park City's carbon-neutral district planning, 120+ global stakeholders on the Trusted Digital Systems initiative, and contributing work that supported a $5.6M federal planning grant for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway corridor reimagination. The firm is M/WBE-certified in NYC and NYS, files no external funding, and operates with a 1-10 employee boutique footprint distributed across Brooklyn and Gurgaon.

Name

3x3

Legal name

3×3 Design US LLC and 3×3 Design India Private Limited

Website

https://3x3.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

3x3 is a minority- and women-owned community-centered design consultancy providing participatory design, service design, applied research, evaluation, and training services to government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and international organizations across the US and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community-Centered Design Consulting

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Brand Experience (BX) & Service Design (BPAFAEAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Customer Experience (CX) & Digital Experience (BPAHAEAC)

Keywords

• Community-centered design
• Participatory urban planning
• Civic engagement consulting
• Service design consulting
• Community research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Design and Planning Consulting Services: 3x3 generates revenue through fee-for-service consulting engagements with government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and international organizations. Projects span urban planning, civic infrastructure, community engagement, service design, and policy. Engagements are typically multi-month project contracts secured through direct relationships and RFP processes. This is the primary revenue stream.
2. Training and Workshop Programs: 3x3 offers paid training programs including Community-Centered Design 101, Inclusive Facilitation Fundamentals, and multi-day immersive workshops (partnered with AIA New York). These programs generate revenue through participant registration fees and are also used for brand building and pipeline development.
3. Research and Evaluation Engagements: 3x3 conducts applied research, landscape assessments, feasibility studies, and program evaluations for public and philanthropic clients. These are structured as consulting deliverables feeding into strategic planning and policy outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

3x3 is a community-centered design consultancy that provides participatory design, service design, community engagement, applied research, and training services to government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and international organizations. The firm helps public and civic institutions co-create programs, policies, and infrastructure with communities through structured frameworks such as the Community-Centered Design Toolkit, and delivers engagements ranging from urban planning and civic infrastructure projects to evaluator studies and accelerator programs.

Product overview

3x3 is a minority and women-owned community-centered design consultancy offering a comprehensive suite of services including consulting, training programs, and community engagement facilitation. The core offering is the Community-Centered Design Toolkit, a methodology framework that informs all project work. The company provides structured training programs including Community-Centered Design 101 (introductory sessions), Community-Centered Design Workshop (two-day immersive seminars), Inclusive Facilitation Fundamentals (webinar series), and Community-Centered Design Huddle (monthly practitioner gatherings). Consulting services span Service Design, Community Engagement, Applied Research, Evaluation, and custom Trainings. The company serves government agencies, nonprofits, and foundations globally with a focus on New York City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community-Centered Design Consulting Services Fee-for-service design and planning consulting engagements covering urban planning, civic infrastructure, public engagement, service design, and policy with government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and international organizations. Engagements are typically multi-month project contracts secured through direct relationships and RFP processes.
• Service Design Design and redesign of public-facing services through human-centered and collaborative practices, including service delivery improvement and organizational learning for government and nonprofit clients.
• Community Engagement
• Applied Research
• Evaluation
• Custom Trainings for Teams
• Community-Centered Design 101 Training
• Community-Centered Design Workshop
• Inclusive Facilitation Fundamentals
• Community-Centered Design Huddle
• Community-Centered Design Toolkit

Quantifiable outcome

• Increase in average daily revenue from $140-$160 to $400-$600 for participating small businesses at Flatbush Junction
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

44 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• World Wide Web FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3x3 partnered with the World Wide Web Foundation and Superbloom on the Trusted Digital Systems initiative (2022), co-creating a governance framework for Trusted Design including norms, regulatory pathways, and accountability systems. Over 120 global stakeholders engaged through five multidisciplinary workshops. The framework addresses deceptive design patterns through rights-respecting standards and a multi-layered governance ecosystem.
• Agence Française de DéveloppementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization with whom 3x3 has worked, particularly in international development and civic design contexts.
• GoogleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among 30+ organizations that 3x3 has partnered with. Nature of engagement not detailed in available sources.
• TargetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed among 30+ partner organizations. Nature of engagement not detailed in available sources.
• AIGA New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with AIGA/NY on multiple projects including the East New York small business empowerment initiative (IDeA:ENY) and design-driven community development programs.
• HR&A Advisors, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization. Commercial real estate and economic development advisory firm.
• ULI New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Land Institute New York chapter listed as a partner. Urban planning and development focus.
• HyperaktcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3x3 partnered with Hyperakt as platform design lead on the NeighborhoodStat Meter project for the Mayor's Action Plan (2018-2019). Hyperakt designed the digital dashboard while 3x3 led stakeholder roundtables to align on project goals and improve the dashboard and collaboration process.
• WE DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture partner for the Gardens Rising climate resilience study with NYC Community Gardens Coalition (2018). WE Design led landscape architecture while 3x3 led community research and engagement strategy for over 40 community gardens in the Lower East Side.
• NYC Community Gardens CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore nonprofit partner for the Gardens Rising project examining community gardens as climate resilience infrastructure in NYC coastal zones, funded through the Governor's Office for Storm Recovery.
• eDesign DynamicscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering services partner alongside WE Design for the Gardens Rising green infrastructure feasibility study, providing technical stormwater capture analysis.
• Manuel Miranda PracticeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the Flatbush Junction small business support project with NYC Department of Small Business Services (2016-2017).
• WeShouldDoItAllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with 3x3 and AIGA/NY on the We Mean Business East New York project (2015), fostering collaborations among local community development and arts advocacy organizations for culturally relevant small business support.
• Brown UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner for the Little Roady autonomous vehicle pilot in Providence (2019-2020), supporting community research and engagement alongside RIDOT.
• Star City GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner engaged on the Little Roady community research project in Providence.
• NicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic co-development partner on the Community Investment Fund feasibility study for Metro West CDO and the Fund for Our Economic Future in Cleveland. Also partnered on the Nico Echo Park shared ownership housing model (2018-ongoing).
• Seventh HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReal estate and legal strategy partner alongside Nico on the Community Investment Fund feasibility study in Cleveland.
• WXY Architecture and Urban DesigncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture and urban design partner within the project team for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Community Partner Program (2023-2024), working with 18 community-based organizations to develop a community-led vision for the corridor.
• WSP USA, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and planning consultant within the BQE Vision project team alongside WXY Architecture and Urban Design, providing technical assistance for the $5.6M planning grant-funded corridor reimagining.
• Buro HappoldcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and sustainability consultancy partner on the Battery Park City carbon-neutral district planning initiative. Engaged nearly 500 stakeholders in developing the 10-year sustainability roadmap and green guidelines for BPCA.
• Buro Happold Cities ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEconomics and planning partner alongside 3x3 on the first in-depth study of NYC's small theater ecosystem, combining quantitative economic analysis with qualitative community insights.
• City College of New York's Center for Systems and Community Design (CUNY CSCD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner3x3 serves as implementation partner for the NIH R01-funded SPARCS study led by CUNY CSCD, conducting community-centered design interventions in 8 low-income NYC neighborhoods to enhance social health infrastructure through community parks.
• The Alliance for Coney IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore nonprofit partner for the Mermaid Avenue place-based strategy (2018), using collective placemaking to develop a corridor identity and activation strategy for local economic development in Coney Island.
• Urban Design Research InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in India's urban design and research space.
• Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization working on heritage conservation and urban development in India.
• Two BridgesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization in NYC community development.
• Village AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC community organization partner for the Community Census public installation at the Positively 8th Street Festival in Greenwich Village.
• WSDIAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign consultancy partner listed as a collaborator on various NYC community development projects.
• Center for Health Equity DelhiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner organization addressing public health equity in Delhi, India.
• Delhi Urban Arts CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment arts and culture commission in Delhi, India, partnered with on participatory planning in informal settlements (Lado Sarai project).
• SuperbloomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3x3 partnered with Superbloom and World Wide Web Foundation on the Trusted Digital Systems initiative, co-creating governance infrastructure for trusted design norms and accountability systems.
• RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator powered by MaRSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host and community partner for the Mobilizing Women-Led Green Entrepreneurship event series under WE Connect NYC program.
• SecondMuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation ecosystem partner co-hosting women-led green entrepreneurship events as part of the WE Connect NYC program.
• Scale for ClimateTechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate tech accelerator partner for women-led green entrepreneurship programming under WE Connect NYC.
• Trust for Governor's IslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for WE Connect green entrepreneurship events, providing ecosystem showcase and pitch space.
• Urban Future LabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClean energy innovation ecosystem partner for women-led green entrepreneurship events.
• Women.nycminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC government/civic initiative partner for women entrepreneurs programming under WE Connect.
• Consulate General of Denmark in New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiplomatic/consular partner co-hosting green entrepreneurship events for WE Connect.
• Consulate General of Canada in New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiplomatic/consular partner co-hosting green entrepreneurship events for WE Connect.
• CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health PolicyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner on the Community Development Usership Survey with NYC Parks, contributing public health expertise.
• Prospect Park AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark conservancy partner for the CD Usership Survey studying low- and moderate-income residents' relationship with NYC flagship parks.
• Van Cortlandt Park AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark conservancy partner for the CD Usership Survey at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
• Friends of Pelham Bay ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPark friends group partner for the CD Usership Survey at Pelham Bay Park in the Bronx.
• TYTHEdesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner with 3x3 on the Community Census public installation, collaborating on interactive engagement methods for capturing community perceptions about neighborhood resources and amenities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDEO: Global design consultancy with a long-standing human-centered design practice that overlaps directly with 3x3's community-centered design methodology. IDEO is a far larger firm serving both public and private sector clients, making it the closest broad incumbent in civic and social impact design.
• HR&A Advisors: Economic development and real estate advisory firm listed as a 3x3 partner. Operates in the same NYC civic ecosystem on community development, land use, and public-sector strategy engagements — broader scope and larger team than 3x3.
• WSP USA: Global engineering and planning consultancy partnering with 3x3 on the BQE corridor program. Represents the incumbent tier of large technical consultancies that increasingly absorb community-engagement scopes within larger infrastructure bids.
• Buro Happold: International engineering and sustainability consultancy partnering with 3x3 on the Battery Park City carbon-neutral district planning. Overlaps with 3x3 on civic and sustainability engagements but at substantially larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Hyperakt: Social-impact design and digital studio in NYC that partnered with 3x3 on the NeighborhoodStat Meter dashboard project. Comparable as a mission-driven design firm working with civic clients on participatory and equity-centered engagements.
• TYTHEdesign: NYC-based design consultancy focused on social impact, community engagement, and nonprofit clients; partnered with 3x3 on the Community Census public installation. Directly comparable in scale, methodology, and civic clientele.
• WXY Architecture and Urban Design: NYC urban design and architecture firm that partnered with 3x3 on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway community-led visioning. Comparable in civic urban design work with overlapping government clientele and community-engagement orientation.
• Superbloom: Design and research studio that co-created the Trusted Digital Systems governance framework with 3x3 and the World Wide Web Foundation. Directly comparable as a small, mission-driven design firm working on trust, safety, and digital governance.
• WeShouldDoItAll: NYC civic design and community development studio that collaborated with 3x3 and AIGA/NY on the We Mean Business East New York project. Comparable as a small, community-rooted design practice working in NYC's equity-focused civic space.

Regional players

• Urban Design Research Institute: Mumbai-based urban design and research organization listed as a 3x3 partner in India. Comparable as a civic urban design and research entity serving Indian cities, paralleling 3x3's India office work in participatory planning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/3x3Design
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3x3-design
• Instagraminstagram.com/3x3_design
• Xx.com/3x3Design

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3x3