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DESIGN IS CHANGE™ (DECHA™) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate research and service-learning initiative in conceptual graphic design, technology, and fine arts at Florida International University. Aligned with FIU’s Global Learning outcomes and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the project positions design as a tool for social responsibility and global engagement.
Students collaborate with non-profit organizations to research social issues and produce posters and digital media that address local and global challenges. Through interdisciplinary, inquiry-based methods, DECHA™ fosters global awareness, collaboration, and ethical design practice, preparing students to become active citizen designers committed to positive social change. www.designischange.org
In 2025, the Storm Drain Art Project was a collaborative graphic design student stencil initiative that fostered community engagement and raised public awareness about trash pollution and environmental responsibility. Developed through a partnership between the City of Miami, its Art in Public Places and Office of Resilience and Sustainability divisions, Ocean Conservancy, and Florida International University, the project engaged students from the BFA Digital Arts in Graphic Design. Student-designed stencils were painted at storm drains across the city, serving as visible reminders of how everyday actions affect waterways, public health, and the climate crisis, particularly in underserved communities, while empowering students through hands-on civic and environmental stewardship.