In early 2018, Iantha Carley, Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, Shawna Underwood, Charles Almonte, and Quintece Hill-Mattauszek met for dinner at Tiger Fork, a delightful Chinese bistro tucked away in Shaw’s historic Blagden Alley. Bonding over dim sum and Cantonese noodles, they decided to meet more often by hosting a monthly dinner.

Over the next few months, these get-togethers led to meaningful camaraderie as well as a growing sense of fellowship. Soon, Iantha, Dennese, Shawna, Charles, and Quince began to wonder if they could serve a greater purpose: What if we went beyond these monthly dinners? What if we established a community for boosting racial visibility, equality, and access in D.C. design?

With that, they decided to launch the Design Collective D.C. (DCDC) in February 2020. Over the past two years, DCDC has grown into an organization encompassing a dozen members and counting. A hub for professional access and support, it connects its members to D.C.’s best collaborators and vendors as well as hosting exclusive events, including seminars, guest speakers, and private showroom visits.

As part of its work, DCDC is committed to participating in educational outreach, offering mentorship and concrete support to BIPOC design students and young designers starting out in the profession. DCDC also participates in numerous local charity events, including the ‘Night of Trees’ event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown to support the Special Olympics.

As of now, the members of DCDC remain focused on growing their membership within the D.C. Metro Area and surrounding cities, though seek to partner with like-minded organizations across the country.