Empowering Professionals and Students for a Brighter Future.
Establishing a presence and supporting minority designers in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Minorities in Architecture and Design (RIMiAD) is an organization that connects individuals from underrepresented groups within the design community located in the state of Rhode Island. Beginning in November 2022, RIMiAD has hosted minority meetup events that bring together design professionals and college students to facilitate networking and community development. These gatherings occur every other month and are hosted at local minority owned businesses.
Who We Are
Rhode Island Minorities in Architecture & Design (RIMiAD) is an organization that fosters connections between individuals from underrepresented groups within the architecture, design, and allied fields. Founded in November 2022, RIMiAD has created a space for networking and community-building among designers and professionals. A critical part of RIMiAD’s mission is to promote diversity in the workplace by providing support to current professionals and inspiring students of all backgrounds to pursue architecture and design fields. Our organization is run by a committee of volunteers dedicated to furthering RIMiAD’s mission through planning events and developing new resources for our community. Our meetup events bring professionals and college students together every other month and are hosted at minority-owned businesses throughout the state. We are excited to work with our fiscal sponsor, DESIGNxRI, to grow our network and expand our organizational reach in Rhode Island. In 2024 we launched our inaugural mentorship program in the winter and a workshop on stress in the fall.
Our Mission
RIMiAD is an organization that connects and supports individuals from underrepresented groups by fostering community and providing mentorship opportunities within design and its allied fields in Rhode Island.
Our Values
As an organization we value promoting diversity within the design field in the state of Rhode Island.
Our Vision
As an organization we strive to increase visibility of underrepresented individuals in the architecture and design fields. This will in turn strengthen and build up the community to create a strong network of students and professionals in the field.
Where We Come From
Our strength is in our diversity—of backgrounds, of industries, and of thought. RIMiAD brings together students and professionals working across:
Architecture & Design — Architecture, Interior, Landscape, Furniture, Industrial, Graphic, Lighting, Kitchen, Jewelry, Fashion
Built Environment — Construction, Urban Planning, Historic Preservation, Building Commissioning, Real Estate
Creative Fields — Photography & Videography, Film Production, Marketing, Tailoring & Upholstery
STEM & Education — Engineering, Environmental Studies, Education, Business
We’re proud to have welcomed attendees from:
Brown University
Cornell University
Rhode Island School of Design
New England Tech
Community College of
Rhode Island
Roger Williams University
University of Rhode Island
Wheaton College
Umass Dartmouth
Rhode Island College
and more
