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The mission of Design and Build is to motivate invention through collaborative creativity.

Since 1991, MOA’s Design and Build program has provided an opportunity for emerging artists, students and creative minds to express their creativity in collaborative art, architecture and design projects. Since the inception of the program thousands of students throughout Colorado have collaborated on innumerable projects.

Originally, Design and Build was a high school competition in which a dozens of regional high schools in Colorado would submit proposals for temporary public art projects at several host sites around the Denver Metro area. Proposals were juried and select projects were selected to be realized at the various sites. Sites included Denver Union Station, Denver International Airport’s Peña Blvd., Cities of Englewood, Greenwood Village, Denver, Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, and more!

The program then shifted to focus more on outreach and an in-house studio arts internship for undergraduate level artists. These projects resulted in high profile outdoor public art pieces as well as exhibitions developed collaboratively by summer interns working under a lead artist in the MOA studio.

The program generates temporary public art, exhibitions, installations and design concepts and offers lessons in collaborative teamwork, problem-solving and aesthetic and technical considerations. From concept to installation, students must consider all elements of the public art process, including environmental concern, safety, budgeting, project design, proposal writing, maquette making, construction, installation and removal. When installed, Design and Build artworks enliven the everyday life of the community.

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