About Us

Located in the Main Street Cultural District in downtown Ames, Design on Main is a satellite studio and gallery facility that connects Iowa State University’s College of Design with the greater Ames community. Design on Main houses the graduate studios of Graphic Design, Integrated Visual Arts, Sustainable Environments and Urban Design, as well as a large community art gallery. [map]

Community Gallery Mission

Our gallery’s mission is to strengthen creative connections between Iowa State University and the Ames community through arts education and artist-led projects.

An extension of Iowa State University’s College of Design, Design on Main aims to share the artistic practice generated within the university with the larger community. It is our belief that conversation and collaboration can bolster Ames’s vibrant culture.

Our programs include several events geared toward community interaction, including open artistic forums, workshops, exhibitions, and musical and literary showcases. All events are free and open to the public.