Showing Up During COVID-19

“We are Spy Hop:”

How one youth media organization persisted in the face of an earthquake, a pandemic, and a broken microphone

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Convergence Design Lab

We are a full service research and design agency on a mission to build resilient learning ecosystems. We were formed out of the urgent need of our communities to rethink their own learning ecologies through the lens of equity and engagement.

Today we work at the intersection of research, design and strategic thinking helping our partners build sustainable programs and practices that strengthen their impact.

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Mindy Faber and the incredible Convergence Design Lab are invaluable partners, collaborators, cheerleaders, advisors, and friends. Their work has pushed Spy Hop and our teaching staff to deeply examine our pedagogy and push us to be better, to do better, to be critical thinkers of our own work. Through our partnership, Convergence Design Lab has given us the insight, guidance, and tools to empower us to better articulate our positive impact on the youth we serve and our place in the world as change-makers.

Matt Mateus

Deputy Director, Spy Hop

Convergence Design Lab listened to me think and came back with design ideas that enhanced our strategic thinking. They helped make complex concepts for equity easy to understand using design elements that never would have occurred to us.

Dr. Maurice Swinney

Chief Equity Officer, Chicago Public Schools

Convergence Design Lab’s innovative approach broke down barriers in our thinking around audience engagement, and helped us create a simple, inviting approach to engaging Chicagoans in the mission of Inherit Chicago. It's transformed the way we think about patron experience in our public programs.

Emily Reusswig

Executive Director, Chicago Cultural Alliance

Convergence helped us open up access to design thinking for students and teachers through aligning the design process with other teaching frameworks and standards.

Edge Quintanilla

Manager, Discover Design, Chicago Architectural Foundation

Convergence has been a key partner and ally, helping CLX design think more deeply and strategically about how we can support educators and practitioners through a blended community of practice.

Sana Jafri

Executive Director, Chicago Learning Exchange