The Fruit Belt Mural Project is a design based beautification movement to create a series of large-scale community driven public artworks, using creative thinking as a strategy to provide socially engaged art to transform a neighborhood that has been overtaken by blight and disinvestment.

The Fruit Belt project model is an example of affective co-design as a way to catalyze change, build social capital, and create hope with a creative environment that is more than aesthetic.

Rochester Police officers brush-up on their painting.

The Rochester Rhinos soccer team shows support for the Fruit Belt Project.

"True beauty emanates from a selfless heart" -Cristina Munoz

One little lone supporter of the project.

POST NOTES inspired by the community.

Be Happy & Dream. Words of a neighborhood resident.

Words to Live By is a positive impact social awareness campaign designed to inspire individual growth. An arsenal of carefully considered, vivid typographical public murals use community-based graphic design to spur advocacy.

Quote-inspired graphic art serves as a subtle prompt to community engagement, leaving behind not only deliverable design products, but also communities that feel empowered through clear communication, imagination action.

JUST PLAY is part of a Michael Jordan quote,"Just play. Have fun. Enjoy the game" for a neighborhood playground.

"Think good and it will be good." 

This design draws on the Jewish tradition to spread a universal and uplifting message to the entire community. This Chassidic mantra is translated from the Yiddish of Rabbi Menachem Mendel, and is of great meaning to the Yaras family. It is a charge to think positively about life, and thus, to reap the rewards of positive thinking.

READ These four large letters R E A D were used to to express the importance of reading.

GROW is a three dimensional mural representing community growth in the city's market district.

WANT NOT is part two of an area mural dedicated to the idea sustainability and recycling.

"Empower with faith, hope, and trust and keep reaching for those stars". Quote provided by Dazzle School of Visual & Performing Arts Executive Director . Dazzle's mission is to provide arts-with-education programs and training to those with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and mental health issues.

B the Change. This typographical mural draws from words of Mahatma Gandhi. "Be the change you wish to see in the world," 

Quote-inspired graphic art serves as a subtle prompt to community engagement, leaving behind not only deliverable design products, but also communities that feel empowered through clear communication, imagination action.

IT’S ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER

Rarely is there a single answer to a seemingly complex question. Hashing out concepts and ideas with others makes the process more inclusive-which means more creativity across the board. We routinely partner with local stakeholders in socially oriented design work, to ensure that concepts and solutions are practical yet imaginative, culturally appropriate, scalable, and impactful. Communal creativity is about exploring, collaborating, and pushing boundaries of comfort -that needs not happen alone.

Photo credit: James Bogue