Elva Dong
Designer championing sustainability, equitable access to education, and inclusion.
Member Since
February 2025
Elva is a research driven designer and sustainability enthusiast, born when our atmosphere contained 365 ppm CO2. Elva is an Asian American LGBTQ+ person living in Philadelphia, PA, USA — the traditional ancestral, unceded lands of the Lenape peoples. Originally from New York City, they became involved in sustainability at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They hold a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). Elva designs for the welfare of all life and seeks to educate and promote sustainable practices in daily living. Over the years Elva has carved trail, composted, recycled (even though it’s a scam), and created satirical anticapitalistic work. Elva currently works at Quatrefoil Associates, designing for museum exhibits and promoting education.
Ask me about
Ultra processed food, its effects on our minds and bodies, and problems it reflects within our society.
My super power is
Having a voracious appetite for learning and sharing knowledge.
I'm looking for
A community interested in the power of the people.
What I love about experience design
The farmers market. Bountiful, whether in produce, prepared foods, or simply the connections you make with the people who provide the food that you need to survive. It’s amazing to be able to know the faces of those who grew the food you eat.
Best piece of advice I've ever heard
Design your life.
Where I find Inspiration
By seeking out others with whom you can be your most authentic self.
Practice Area
Exhibition, Placemaking, Strategy/Research/Planning, Wayfinding
Focus Area
Equitable Design, Exhibition, Graphic, Interpretive, Smart Cities, Sustainability
Industry
Cultural, Education, Museums, Urban + Civic, Visitor Centers