Design with Love: At Home in America

Dec 18

In Design with Love: At Home in America, Katie Swenson brings together two decades of community-centered design work with vivid photography and narrative to show how homes built thoughtfully and in partnership can become powerful instruments of justice, dignity, and belonging.

Swenson, a former vice president of design & sustainability at Enterprise Community Partners and longtime leader of the Rose Fellowship program, presents a selection of ten projects across the U.S. that illustrate how designers, community organizations, and residents can work in concert to build affordable, beautiful, and resilient housing. From the streets of Skid Row, Los Angeles, to rural communities in South Dakota and the Mississippi Delta, the stories span a diverse geography of need and innovation.

What sets Design with Love apart is its intention: the book doesn’t treat design as mere aesthetics or detached architecture, but as an act of care, a way to listen, respond, and heal. Swenson’s framework acknowledges that design must be deeply rooted in the priorities, identity, and agency of the people who live in these communities. Through photographs and firsthand accounts, the book shows how design has the power to welcome, empower, and transform.

Why This Book Resonates with HomeAid’s Mission

HomeAid’s mission is to “build new lives” for families and individuals experiencing homelessness, not just through shelter, but through dignity, community, and long-term stability. Design with Love echoes that mission in several profound ways:

Design as Partnership, Not Imposition. Just as HomeAid brings together affiliates, building partners, local agencies, and future residents in our projects, Swenson’s case studies emphasize co-creation, honoring the voice and vision of the community rather than enforcing top-down solutions.
Beauty + Function + Justice. The book’s projects show that affordable housing need not accept compromise on quality, sustainability, or aesthetic value. HomeAid’s work similarly strives for homes that lift people up, rather than simply house them.
Demonstration of Scalable Models. The Rose Fellowship network has produced replicable design strategies across varied contexts. HomeAid can draw inspiration from these models as we expand housing solutions in multiple cities and contexts.
Embedding Love & Care into Spaces. The idea that every building can reflect compassion and human dignity aligns with HomeAid’s values. Our housing is not just functional, but meant to carry hope, community, and respect.

Ideas for Volunteers & Educators

While Design with Love is a bit more technical than a typical book, it offers excellent opportunities for deeper engagement:

For Educators: Use the images and stories to spark discussion about what “home” means. Ask: What are the spaces you most cherish in your home? How could a home reflect who you are? Compare with the homes in the book and imagine what you would design.
For Volunteers & Supporters: Reflect on ways to bring design sensitivity to volunteer work, whether in painting, landscaping, furniture selection, or renovation. Even small decisions can embody care, not just cost.
For Local Affiliates: Use Design with Love as a study piece in your local design reviews or planning sessions. Share excerpts with architects, planners, or municipal partners to elevate conversations about equitable design in your communities.

In Closing

Design with Love is a rich, inspiring collection of stories showing how design and architecture, when rooted in care, equity, and community voice, can help build not just houses, but homes full of possibility and dignity. It resonates deeply with HomeAid’s mission to serve people with respect, creativity, and long-term impact.

We encourage all HomeAid staff, partners, volunteers, and supporters to explore this book, reflect on its lessons, and carry them into your work.