Culture /

Open Hand Studio

Creating a tidal wave of impact

CannonDesign helped The Ladder Alliance, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence and low-income women take steps toward self-sufficient, successful and independent lives, refresh their Success Store. The store is an area where graduates of Ladder Alliance programs can shop for professional outfits that help them feel empowered in job interviews and careers.

CannonDesign helped The Ladder Alliance, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence and low-income women take steps toward self-sufficient, successful and independent lives, refresh their Success Store. The store is an area where graduates of Ladder Alliance programs can shop for professional outfits that help them feel empowered in job interviews and careers.

We believe transformative design should be within reach to all individuals and communities.

That’s why we created Open Hand Studio more than 15 years ago. It’s CannonDesign’s public interest design arm — an embodiment of our firm’s purpose to help all people flourish. Guided by a heartfelt commitment to social good, it harnesses our expertise in design, research, advocacy and consulting to develop and scale transformative solutions that directly address crucial human needs.

Through partnerships with nonprofits, foundations and cause-driven organizations, we use design to advance crucial areas such as education, health, economic development, racial and social equity, and beyond. We aim to not just create a ripple of improvement but a tidal wave of impact that can be scaled locally, regionally and globally, leaving an enduring legacy of meaningful change.

Recent Open Hand Studio News + Perspectives

AIA Architect features Open Hand Studio’s project with Jamaa Birth Village

AIA Architect released an article highlighting the maternal health crisis in the U.S. and how design projects hope to improve the birthing experience for families.

An aerial rendering of Jamaa Birth Village

The Ladder Alliance opens refreshed Success Store

Through Open Hand Studio, our firm's incubator for public interest design, our team helped The Ladder Alliance create a refreshed and empowering Success Store where survivors of domestic violence and/or low-income women can shop for career outfits.

Creating an easy-to-deploy model for neurodivergent learning and development

We proudly partnered with Edison Park Elementary in Chicago to transform a once empty classroom into a remarkable sensory space that other schools and districts can model.

Creating an easy-to-deploy model for neurodivergent learning and development

Open Hand Studio designs and scales solutions that address essential human needs.

With every project, we stand shoulder to shoulder with the individuals and communities we’re designing for, embracing their perspectives, aspirations and needs. Together, we forge solutions that carry profound significance — generating ideas and committing ourselves to crafting clear, actionable plans that bring them to life.

If you're interested in exploring potential projects or collaborating with Open Hand Studio, reach out, and let's work together to design a future where flourishing knows no bounds.

Let's do good together.

Watch this video to learn more about Open Hand Studio

Watch this video to learn more about Open Hand Studio

A few projects we've been honored to lead

Jamaa Birth Village is dedicated to providing a safe and accessible haven for pregnant Black women seeking doula and midwifery services. We were honored to partner with Jamaa in creating its clinic space and are now collaborating with them to shape a postpartum retreat and care center. These projects are crucial steps toward improving maternal health outcomes for Black women and their babies.

Jamaa Birth Village is dedicated to providing a safe and accessible haven for pregnant Black women seeking doula and midwifery services. We were honored to partner with Jamaa in creating its clinic space and are now collaborating with them to shape a postpartum retreat and care center. These projects are crucial steps toward improving maternal health outcomes for Black women and their babies.

Valley Settlement brings invaluable learning and childcare to immigrant families across Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley through their El Busesitos mobile preschools. We're collaborating with them to reimagine these mobile preschools, enhancing their impact on the children, teachers, and families who rely on them.

Valley Settlement El Busesitos — Valley Settlement brings invaluable learning and childcare to immigrant families across Colorado's Roaring Fork Valley through their El Busesitos mobile preschools. We're collaborating with them to reimagine these mobile preschools, enhancing their impact on the children, teachers, and families who rely on them.

The Ladder Alliance provides survivors of domestic violence and low-income women with the tools to lead self-sufficient, successful and independent lives. We partnered with the non-profit to design and furnish its Success Store, where graduates of Ladder Alliance programs can shop for professional outfits that help them feel empowered in their next job interview or career.

Ladder Alliance 90 — The Ladder Alliance provides survivors of domestic violence and low-income women with the tools to lead self-sufficient, successful and independent lives. We partnered with the non-profit to design and furnish its Success Store, where graduates of Ladder Alliance programs can shop for professional outfits that help them feel empowered in their next job interview or career.

Matheny is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with medically complex developmental disabilities through its specialized school, hospital, and community-oriented group homes that foster dignity and independence. In partnership with Matheny, we developed the groundbreaking Community Residence Design Guidelines to elevate the design of future group homes, ensuring they cater to the unique needs of residents with complex disabilities and their caregivers.

Matheny Hospital School — Matheny is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with medically complex developmental disabilities through its specialized school, hospital, and community-oriented group homes that foster dignity and independence. In partnership with Matheny, we developed the groundbreaking Community Residence Design Guidelines to elevate the design of future group homes, ensuring they cater to the unique needs of residents with complex disabilities and their caregivers.

The MDE LGBTQ+ Students Project is focused on empowering and equipping Michigan schools to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students, their families and the educators who serve them. We Worked with the project's strategic partners to build on their current momentum and develop a strategic roadmap for increased engagement, in particular among school districts that primarily serve students of color and/or are located in rural areas.

Lgbtq — The MDE LGBTQ+ Students Project is focused on empowering and equipping Michigan schools to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ students, their families and the educators who serve them. We Worked with the project's strategic partners to build on their current momentum and develop a strategic roadmap for increased engagement, in particular among school districts that primarily serve students of color and/or are located in rural areas.

We proudly partnered with Edison Park Elementary in Chicago to transform a once empty classroom into a remarkable sensory space. We also created an easy-to-action guide or "playbook" that any school district in the country can use to develop programming.

Edison Park Elementary Sensory Space 06 — We proudly partnered with Edison Park Elementary in Chicago to transform a once empty classroom into a remarkable sensory space. We also created an easy-to-action guide or "playbook" that any school district in the country can use to develop programming.

It’s amazing to continue to see the impact of Open Hand Studio and also that the vision that we set forth 15 years ago I believe still resonates. I think that's a real affirming and helpful thing to consider — that one can create something that can endure if it's rooted in a really strong vision and is shepherded and stewarded by really passionate people.

Ashley Marsh Founder, Open Hand Studio

View more Open Hand Studio projects

Explore more

Living-Centered Design

Living-Centered Design is a movement. It's our approach to designing solutions that not only address human needs, but the increasingly complex interdependencies that exist across all life.

Inclusive Partner Program

Created in partnership with leaders from XBE firms across the country, our Inclusive Partner Program galvanizes people and companies around a shared purpose: to collectively have the most impact possible.