Youth. Creative. agency.

WHAT WE DO.

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Youth Design Center is a youth creative agency and innovation hub providing a gateway for young people to learn marketable hard skills in STEAM, access post-secondary education, achieve economic mobility, and engage in place-based community revitalization.

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HOW WE DO IT

Modeled as a creative service agency, our projects teach design thinking, art, multimedia, tech and communication skills to give young people the technical and leadership tools they need to compete in the innovation economy and to be leaders in their community. YDC offers studios and mentorship in printmaking, fine arts, spatial and product design, fabrication, photography, coding, graphic design, video and animation. Design mentors collaborate with youth on projects that add value to their community as well as client commissioned creative projects.

Quardean Lewis

QUARDEAN LEWIS-ALLEN

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Quardean Lewis-Allen is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit youth creative agency and innovation hub, Youth Design Center, which provides a gateway for young people in his native Brownsville community and beyond to access mentorship to tackle underrepresentation in STEAM professions, cyclical poverty, and to address the need for place-based community revitalization. He has over a decade of interdisciplinary design experience working across public and private sectors at the intersection of tactical urbanism and social activism through community-led design.

Lewis-Allen was an Adjunct Lecturer at City College of New York and NYU Tisch Interactive Telecommunications Program where he was also a Human-In-Residence Fellow. He serves on the Board of Brownsville Community Development Corporation and the Ocean Hill Brownsville Coalition of Young Professionals. He is an Emerging Leaders Fund recipient of Claneil Foundation, Crain’s Under 40, Forbes Under 30, America’s Promise Alliance’s People of Promise Awardee and an Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow, amongst other accolades. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from SUNY Buffalo and a Masters in Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Stephon Cronneitt

Operations Specialist

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Stephon Cronneitt, a dynamic operations-focused professional with 4+ years of experience facilitating high-impact workshops. Leadership team member for over 5 years with a 24 year strong youth arts and outreach program (DEAP). Skilled junior carpenter working with recycled wood to create sustainable designs, and an experienced mentor with 3+ years of experience guiding youth towards personal and creative development while combining strategic thinking with hands on approach to problem solving and logistics. He focuses on assisting wherever he can and is guided by the motto “Pain Is Temporary, Success is Mandatory”.

Ariel Portillo

Digital Media Producer

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Ariel Portillo is a dedicated Media Producer with a strong foundation in graphic design, audio, and video production. Known for a collaborative spirit and a passion for helping others, they thrive in team environments where creativity and learning go hand in hand. With a deep interest in storytelling and visual communication, Ariel is committed to producing meaningful, high-quality media that engages and inspires.

Lisseth Moreno

Educational Media Coordinator

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Lisseth Moreno Is a creative storyteller with a passion for sound design and digital media, Lisseth thrives on turning ideas into compelling content. Driven by curiosity and a deep belief in the power of storytelling, they are constantly exploring new formats and approaches. As an aspiring content creator, they are dedicated to learning, growing, and creating work that resonates with audiences in meaningful and memorable ways.

OUR VILLAGE

 

PAST Contributing Practitioners

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America on Tech, Web, podcasting

A+A+A Studio, 3D Design

Avilda Whittmore, Visual Artist

N Carlos Jay, Muralist

Self, Printmaking

Verneda Adele White, Apparel Designer

Current Alumni Freelancers

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Ana Frink, Graphic Design

D’angelo Heyward, Graphic Design, Web Design, Photography
Gerard Allison, Graphic Design, Screen Printing, Photo/video

Kwesi Johnson, Graphic Design, Photo/Video

Francisco Trevino, Graphic Design

Khaliyq Taylor, Graphic Design

Chidiogo Igboekwe, Photo/video

Darielle Santana, Photo/video

Ashley-Mae Brown, Graphic Design

Alex Johnson, Web Designer, Digital Media

Ariel Johnson, Photo/video

Raishan Bernard, Web Design, Digital Media

Yoruba Foster, Photo/video

Silvia Ahmad, Web Design

Micheal, Web Design, Digital Media, Photo/video

Past Teaching Artists

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Andrea Chiney, 3D Design

Brian Ho, 3D Design

David Forsee, Digital Media

Steven Clunis, Visual Design

Emmanuel Oni, 3D Design

Khaalid Rahman, Fabrication Lab

Karyn Westbrooks, Photo/Video

Jazmine Hayes, Muralist

Angela Hill, Printmaking

Nicolas Savvides, 3D Design

Lewis Thompson, Podcasting

Matthew Kenney, Coder

Elvin Santana, Apparel Designer

Jacqueline Martinez, Graphic Design

Desdemona Dallas, Photo/Video

Avilda Whitmore, Visual Artist

Aisha Jami, AOT Program Manager

April Harris, (Volunteer) Camp 1 instructor

Courtney la Prince, (Volunteer) Camp 2 instructor

 

Artist-in-Residence

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Jamal Jordan, 2017

Sewing Residents

Lionel Nichols, 2023

Daphne Lundi, 2023

Gerard Alison, 2023

Past Interns

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Rayshawn Levy

Shamroc Cook

Austin Kety

Stephanie Matthews

Mohammed Miah

Bryan Aucapina

Evan Hart

Aris Robles

Peter James

Markel Jordan

Our Board

Steven Clunis

Former Senior Manager, at The Walt Disney Studios

Jerry Blaine Chief Executive Officer, LDI Color ToolBox

Jerry Blaine
Chief Executive Officer, LDI Color ToolBox

Rasmia Kirmani-Frye  Consultant

Rasmia Kirmani
Consultant | Board Chair

 

Julie Torres Moskovitz

Principal, FNA Studio

Ana Frink

Creative/Design Consultant | Founder of Cre8ve Studio | Alumni Board Member

Darian Dawkins

Alumni Board Member

YDC Supporters

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Our Clients

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