At DVDL, we transform spaces and organizations through visitor experiences that pair innovative program mixes with design and cultural interventions.

Visionary Culture Drivers

Museum directors, curators, cultural district leaders, and innovative placemakers defining how audiences experience art, stories, and ideas.

Ambitious City Builders

Architects, developers, municipal leaders, and planners shaping the future of cities and communities through bold, people-focused projects and experiences.

Forward-Looking Brands

Corporations, nonprofits, and foundations that see cultural engagement, storytelling, and visitor experience as central to their engagement strategy.

Likeminded Collaborators

Designers, researchers, educators, and creative partners who share our belief in culture as a catalyst for change and action.

Influential Amplifiers

Press, critics, thoughtleaders, and academic voices who interpret, share, and elevate conversations about the impact of culture and experience.

Engaged Participants

The audiences, visitors, and community members whose experiences and feedback allow us to keep innovating, bringing singular cultural spaces and programs to life.

Testimonials

“In 2017, we contracted David van der Leer to lead our design selection process for a new, dynamic, multi-disciplinary art center in Philadelphia. Not only did David create a world-class search process that was all about getting to know people and their design skills, he helped us develop an exceptionally creative program brief, and a series of trips that helped mobilize funding and strategy and gave us new insights into what we wanted from our building. David’s contributions are so valuable that we have retained DVDL Design Decisions to consult with us during the actual design process.”– Harry Philbrick, Founding Director, Philadelphia Contemporary

“We hired David van der Leer to create an Intuitive Assessment around possible future developments for our art fair. David conceived a number of ideas for this, from highly innovative moonshots of what Abu Dhabi Art could be, to small incremental changes. David’s clear perspective and creative suggestions were both insightful and productive. It was a pleasure to collaborate with him.”  –Dyala Nusseibeh, Director, Abu Dhabi Art

“David van der Leer advised us for almost five years while we were conceptualizing a new foundation focused on art and literacy in Mexico City. David took me to far flung places around the world and taught me about the value of design. He created a selection process that connected us to fantastic designers, but, more importantly, his creative insight helped us shape our programs. For instance, he suggested that we create a library bus connecting us to underserved communities around the city. I would work with him and his new agency again in a heartbeat.”– Moises Coscio, founder, Alumnos

“I met David van der Leer on a jury competition in DC and felt the process had integrity and focus. I subsequently invited him to advise us on design direction for the visitor experience at the Kennedy Center. David developed a very inclusive process that brought together various constituents including patrons, cultural leaders and our staff and board to envision how to activate our building further and bring together new and diverse audiences. We are in the design and future implementation now and excited to realize the full potential of the Kennedy Center”– Deborah Rutter, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

“I run a successful business and have a great affinity for art and design. We collaborate with DVDL Design Decisions on various design projects. It is a pleasure working through the research and selection processes with David. His approach is always surprising, yet solid, and educational. He helps us see new program possibilities in both our existing and newly acquired properties, and he has introduced us to great designers along the way.”– Michael Forman, The Forman Family Foundation

“When I was dreaming up a retail concept for Band of Outsiders, it was vital for it to be fresh, modern, thought-provoking, and outside of the norms and tropes of typical fashion retail. So, naturally, I went to David for advice. He was sensitive to my pragmatic needs and creative goals and was able to guide me through the process of vetting architects, and, ultimately, lead me to LOT-EK, a wonderful firm who worked on two of my stores and have become like family. I couldn’t have found them without David’s guidance and foresight.”– Scott Sternberg, founder, Band of Outsiders

“At Pennings, we develop and build buildings every day, but conceptualizing a cultural building within a historic structure was something we needed help with. David van der Leer helped us think through scenarios and presentations for what we believe can become a major new art institution in The Netherlands.”– Frank Homburg, Director, Pennings

“Sometimes as designers you need an informed outside voice to give you new ideas, shake things up, and bring people together. Over the years we have occasionally brought in David van der Leer to do exactly that. David is a great listener, strategist, and moderator. He gives great design direction that helps us develop our ideas further.”– Kim Herforth Nielsen, founder, 3XN

“We hired DVDL DD while we were deep into plans to open a new pop culture museum in New York City. With a potential opening still three years away, David did cultural forecasting to anticipate what audiences would want and need by the planned opening in 2023. Building on his findings, he then led several inspiring workshops with me and local cultural creators to re-envision the exhibitions and public programs. David’s team developed a curatorial masterplan and from there a critique of the existing designs for existing exhibitions as well as for our overall architecture. The results were exciting and highly creative, and his process was always thoughtful and thought-provoking. I only wish I’d started working with David much earlier in the process to benefit from his research and insights.”  –Jasen Emmons, Curatorial Director, Museum of Pop Culture NYC 

“As our team was reimagining all the traditional aspects of our institution, David helped us see that a series of fairly small temporary interventions could offer high-impact, low-cost ways of engaging people. We hired David and his team to develop these interventions, and came away with a solid plan for implementation. In a collaborative process around the future of culture and the future of behavior, DVDL DD developed a roadmap for us that is highly flexible, open-ended, and participatory.” –Scott Cooper, President & CEO, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University