How Design by Melo is reshaping community spaces in the Twin Cities

In an industry where representation is limited, Damaris Hollingsworth created an opportunity for herself that she struggled to find elsewhere.

As the founder and principal architect of Design by Melo, Hollingsworth leads a Twin Cities-based architecture and urban design practice spanning affordable housing, mixed-use developments and retail spaces.

Her work reaches across project types and scales, from small residential renovations to large, multi-million-dollar developments. She says her approach is rooted in serving community needs and creating spaces that reflect the people who use them.

Among her most notable completed projects is The Opportunity Crossing, a mixed-use affordable housing development that includes more than 100 family-sized units for residents earning below 50 percent of the Minneapolis area median income. The project marked a major milestone for her firm, its first affordable housing project and its largest to date.

“It was really something that we are really proud of being a part of,” Hollingsworth said.

Another key project is the Zanewood Teen and Youth Center, referred to as The Wood, designed to provide young people with a dedicated space for programming and connection. While affordable housing has become a visible part of Hollingsworth’s portfolio, she said it was not initially the firm’s primary focus. The opportunities came as her work began to gain recognition.

The path to launching Design by Melo was not something Hollingsworth had originally envisioned. She entered the field with the goal of building a long-term career within an established architecture firm. As she navigated the industry, she encountered barriers that made advancement difficult.

“I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. I was an architect,” she said.

As a Black woman and immigrant, she said opportunities for leadership and growth were limited and her voice was often overlooked in professional spaces. Over time, those experiences led her to rethink her path.

Rather than continuing to work within those limitations, Hollingsworth made the decision to create her own opportunities. A choice that led to the founding of her firm, where she could shape both the work and the environment around her.

“I decided to create the opportunity for myself that I did not find,” she said.

Today, Design by Melo operates with a small but impactful team. Despite having just a handful of employees, the firm has taken on complex projects totaling tens of millions of dollars.

“We are tiny but mighty,” Hollingsworth said.

That success, she noted, has been made possible through trust from community partners, nonprofit developers and local government, including the city of Brooklyn Park. Many of her firm’s clients are organizations focused on serving underserved populations, aligning closely with her mission.

Central to that mission is the idea of designing with community rather than imposing solutions from the outside.

“For communities like ours, communities that are underserved and overlooked, it’s important that we create with community, not for community,” Hollingsworth said.

That philosophy shapes how her firm approaches each project, ensuring that design decisions reflect the lived experiences of those who will ultimately use the spaces.

Beyond her work in architecture, Hollingsworth is preparing to share her personal journey through a forthcoming book. The book traces her path from growing up in inner-city São Paulo, Brazil, to becoming an architect in the United States. An experience she hopes will inspire others navigating similar challenges.

“It’s a book about my life story,” she said.

Seven years into building her firm, Hollingsworth and her team continue to expand their portfolio across the Twin Cities. As demand for community-focused design grows, Design by Melo will keep working on projects that center access and community.

For more information, visit https://www.designbymelo.com/.

 Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication student and contributing writer for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.