Diversify by Design (DxD)
Diversify by Design (DxD) is a US-based non-profit coalition under Impact Collaborative LLC that advances racial diversity in the design industry through scholarships, career readiness, youth exposure, and mentorship programs serving underrepresented designers, students, and youth across the full career pipeline.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersUnited States, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Diversify by Design (DxD) does
Diversify by Design (DxD) is a US-based non-profit coalition operating under Impact Collaborative LLC, founded around 2020–2021, dedicated to advancing racial diversity and inclusion in the design industry. The organization coordinates a portfolio of interconnected programs addressing the full design career pipeline: the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program (a 30-year legacy that has supported nearly 850 students and distributed over $1.45M since 1994), D×D Intensives (a career readiness and mentorship program partnering with universities), Design= (an experiential learning initiative for marginalized youth that reports 84% increased interest in design among participants), the Design= Curriculum Kit (educator resources), and the Ask Me Anything event series (172+ attendees in 2025). DxD does not sell products or charge fees; it operates on donations and coalition partnerships, and it engages a small 5-person team supported by an Advisory Council and an ecosystem of 25+ partner organizations including AIGA, Amazon Design, IBM, Intuit, Workday, Delta Dental, Bank of America, and multiple universities (SFSU, UC Davis, UIC, Lehman College).
The organization has no proprietary technology products — its platform is essentially its website (dxd.design), Zoom for virtual events, and email newsletters. Its core "technology" is the coalition infrastructure itself: cross-sector partnerships that funnel underrepresented students from youth exposure into scholarship, internship, and employment pathways (e.g., an SFSU student became Delta Dental's first design intern via D×D Intensives). Revenue is generated exclusively through donations to fund scholarship programs and operational initiatives; programs are free for participants, and partner engagement (corporations, agencies, associations, educational institutions, NGOs) is the primary GTM mechanism. The customer base spans four stakeholder groups: youth from marginalized communities (primary), design students from underrepresented backgrounds (primary), design employers/corporations seeking diverse talent pipelines (secondary), and design educators/mentors (secondary).
Diversify by Design (DxD) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Diversify by Design (DxD)
- Legal name
- Impact Collaborative LLC
- Website
- https://dxd.design
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Diversify by Design (DxD) is a US-based non-profit coalition under Impact Collaborative LLC that advances racial diversity in the design industry through scholarships, career readiness, youth exposure, and mentorship programs serving underrepresented designers, students, and youth across the full career pipeline.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Diversify by Design (DxD) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Non-profit Design Diversity Coalition
- NAICS
- Other Specialized Design Services (54149)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Learning Experience Design (LXD) & UX for Learning (EDAGAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- UX, Design Thinking & Customer Research for PMs (EDABAHAK)
Keywords
Where Diversify by Design (DxD) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- United States
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Diversify by Design (DxD) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Funding: DxD raises money through donations to support its scholarship programs and operational initiatives. The organization actively seeks funding from corporations, foundations, and individuals who support design industry diversity.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Diversify by Design (DxD) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DxD operates a coalition of free programs to advance racial diversity in the design industry, including the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program (financial awards for design students), D×D Intensives (career readiness partnerships with universities and industry), Design= (youth awareness/mentorship program), Design= Curriculum Kit (educator resources), and the Ask Me Anything event series (virtual career conversations with professional designers). The organization serves students, youth, designers, educators, and partner organizations through cross-sector collaboration.
Product overview
Diversify by Design (DxD) is a coalition that operates multiple interconnected programs addressing the entire design career journey. The core offerings include: the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program providing financial support and mentorship to design students (30-year legacy, $1.45M+ distributed to 850+ students); D×D Intensives Career Readiness program bridging industry partners with educational institutions serving marginalized communities; Design= initiative introducing design to youth through experiential learning; the Design= Curriculum Kit enabling educators to teach design concepts; and the Ask Me Anything Event Series featuring professional designers sharing career insights. These programs collectively support exposure, education, experience, employment, and empowerment throughout the design ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- D×D Intensives: Career readiness program that develops and supports collaborations and mentorship opportunities between industry partners and institutions of higher learning serving students from marginalized communities.
- Design=
- AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program
- Ask Me Anything (AMA) Event Series
Products and services
- AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program A scholarship program with a thirty-year legacy that empowers diverse creative voices in design. Since 1994, the program has supported nearly 850 students and distributed more than $1.45 million in funding across Communication Design, Illustration, and Photography categories. The 2025/2026 cycle received 200+ applications and awarded scholarships to 13 students.
- D×D Intensives Career Readiness A career readiness program that develops and supports collaborations and mentorship opportunities between industry partners and institutions of higher learning that serve students from marginalized communities. Has served 230+ students in 3 years and produced tangible employment outcomes such as Delta Dental recruiting its first design intern (an SFSU student) through the program.
- Design= An experiential learning initiative focused on introducing design to youth from marginalized communities and increasing awareness of design as a career path. Delivered in partnership with DesignExplorr and corporate partners such as Amazon Design. 84% of participating middle and high school youth report increased interest in design after the program. The Spring 2025 program at Culver City High School engaged 75+ students with 7 Amazon designers providing in-classroom mentorship.
- Design= Curriculum Kit A curriculum kit designed to help educators and experienced designers engage students and introduce them to the world of design. It is a packaged set of resources for teaching inclusive design concepts, distributed through educator networks and the Design= Newsletter.
- Ask Me Anything Event Series A virtual event series that provides a platform for designers who champion diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to answer questions about their journey to design, their experiences as a professional designer, or the things they create. 172+ people participated in 2025 events featuring university professors, agency presidents, and design entrepreneurs. Delivered via Zoom for global accessibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- 84% of youth participants report increased interest in design after Design= program
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Diversify by Design (DxD)
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Diversify by Design (DxD) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Diversify by Design (DxD) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AIGAcoreFlagship partnership delivering the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship program with a 30-year legacy. AIGA is the professional association for design. The scholarship supports diverse emerging talent in communication design, illustration, and photography.
- Amazon DesigncorePartnership delivering Design= program mentorship. Amazon designers provided in-classroom mentorship to 75+ Culver City High School students in Spring 2025. Program includes album cover design, documentary projects, and web development mentorship.
- San Francisco State University (SFSU)coreKey educational partner for D×D Intensives program. SFSU Director of Design Programs Mari Hulick praised D×D Intensives as 'a shining example of how industry and educational institutions can create impactful opportunities.' SFSU student became Delta Dental's first design intern through this partnership.
- Delta DentalcoreCorporate partner that recruited its first design intern through D×D Intensives. Demonstrates the employment pathway component of DxD's ecosystem approach.
- IBMcoreOen Hammonds, Distinguished Design Executive at IBM, serves on D×D Advisory Council. Represents corporate commitment to design diversity from a major technology employer.
- IntuitminorLogo partner shown on D×D website, indicating partnership in the coalition supporting design industry diversity.
- WorkdayminorLogo partner shown on D×D website, indicating partnership in the coalition supporting design industry diversity.
- DesignExplorrcoreProgram partner for Design= initiative. 84% of youth participants show increased interest in design after the program. Supports experiential learning for marginalized youth.
- Lehman CollegeminorEducational institution partner in D×D coalition, supporting diverse talent pathways in design.
- UC DavisminorEducational institution partner in D×D coalition, supporting diverse talent pathways in design.
- UIC (University of Illinois Chicago)minorEducational institution partner. Anne H. Berry, Director of the School of Design at UIC, participated in D×D Ask Me Anything event series.
- YWCAminorNonprofit organization partner in the D×D coalition supporting racial justice and equity in design.
- IXDA (Interaction Design Association)minorDesign industry association partner in the D×D coalition.
- IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America)minorDesign industry association partner in the D×D coalition.
- Inneract ProjectminorNon-profit design organization partner in the D×D coalition.
- Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD)minorEducational partner where D×D Advisory Council member Durojaiye Salaam teaches as Adjunct Instructor in User Experience.
- Bank of AmericacoreLaura Silva, Technical Project Manager in Global Technology at Bank of America, joined D×D Advisory Council in July 2025. Brings expertise in UX and inclusive design from fintech sector.
- Girls Who CodeminorOrganization where Advisory Council member Laura Silva has collaborated on programs at the intersection of tech and social impact.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Diversify by Design (DxD) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Diversify by Design (DxD) social profiles
Digital presenceDiversify by Design (DxD) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Diversify by Design (DxD) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Diversify by Design (DxD) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Diversify by Design (DxD) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Diversify by Design (DxD)
What does Diversify by Design (DxD) do?
DxD operates a coalition of free programs to advance racial diversity in the design industry, including the AIGA Worldstudio D×D Scholarship Program (financial awards for design students), D×D Intensives (career readiness partnerships with universities and industry), Design= (youth awareness/mentorship program), Design= Curriculum Kit (educator resources), and the Ask Me Anything event series (virtual career conversations with professional designers). The organization serves students, youth, designers, educators, and partner organizations through cross-sector collaboration.
Is Diversify by Design (DxD) a public or private company?
Diversify by Design (DxD) is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Diversify by Design (DxD) founded?
Diversify by Design (DxD) was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Diversify by Design (DxD) based?
Diversify by Design (DxD) is headquartered in United States, United States, in the North America region.
How does Diversify by Design (DxD) make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Funding.
Does Diversify by Design (DxD) have an API?
No public API is recorded for Diversify by Design (DxD).
What industry is Diversify by Design (DxD) in?
Diversify by Design (DxD)'s product category is Non-profit Design Diversity Coalition. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAKAF, Learning Experience Design (LXD) & UX for Learning, with a secondary code of EDABAHAK, UX, Design Thinking & Customer Research for PMs. Its NAICS code is 54149 and its SIC code is 2741.