Our Mission

Greater Good Studio advances people-centered social change.

By working alongside people who are impacted by social inequity, we co-design strategies and solutions that challenge the status quo.

We envision a world where all social change efforts are inclusive and working towards equity.

Beliefs That Guide Our Work

1. The status quo is unacceptable.

We know that opportunity and resources are unevenly distributed in our society, but it doesn’t have to be this way. In order to disrupt systems of oppression, we must unlearn and rethink conventional approaches to design, which have caused harm.

2. Lived experience matters.

The people who experience a problem firsthand are often best equipped to solve it, but are systematically excluded from doing so. We invest in, learn from and create space for living experts, so that they can play a central role in making change.

3. Design is transformative.

Design can build collective capacity and local leadership across communities. The process can restore trust in relationships and faith in the future, foster healing and inspire action. When we design together, it changes all of us.

Our values

Cultural Values

These ideals form the foundation of our culture. We encourage them, uplift them, and seek them out in team members, clients, and advisors.

Grounded Optimism

Maintaining hope for the future while remaining aware of the systemic injustice present in our world.

Courageous Feedback

Sharing our truths and perspectives, knowing that they will be respected; pushing our clients, each other, and ourselves to do better.

Relational Integrity

Honoring, tending to, and holding ourselves accountable to the people around us.

Equity in Practice

Considering who is impacted by imbalances of power and working to remedy  that imbalance.

Working Practices

These skills and behaviors are the ways GGS staff show up and work together to create change.

Being actionable

We give form to intangible things so they can become shared, understood, and implemented.

Being flexible

We stay open to the many paths available to reach our shared goals.

Being inclusive

We accept and honor everyone’s realities.

Being intentional

We give great thought to not only what we create but how we work.

Being reflective

We use mistakes and challenges as learning opportunities.

Being resourceful

We use constraints as a source of inspiration.

Business Principles

These longstanding norms guide how we make decisions about running the studio.

We are a social enterprise, both mission-driven and for-profit.

We have chosen to align our revenue goals with our mission. This means we keep our business sustainable by seeking out clients and projects that advance a more equitable society.

We say no in order to say yes.

We thoroughly interrogate all new business opportunities as a studio. We view our team’s energy as a valuable resource, which is our responsibility to preserve for when the right projects come around.

We grow slowly and sustainably.

We are aware of both the benefits and drawbacks of growth. Rather than growing for the sake of growth, we aim to sustain our business through ups and downs by being intentional about our hiring plans.

We strive for an equitable workplace.

As an employer, we support policies and practices that create a more transparent and equitable distribution of company resources.