Colby College Alaska Design Collaboratory Projects
The Colby College team developed a collection of research-based, community-focused projects addressing housing, relocation planning, and environmental challenges in Alaska Native communities. Their work includes the Staging Area Scenario-Building Project to support collaborative planning; the Typhoon Halong Media Annotated Bibliography Project, which examines media coverage and policy gaps related to housing insecurity; the Mold Stories Project, which shares resident experiences to address mold-related health concerns; and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Housing Resource Guide and Regional Directory Project, a practical resource to help communities navigate housing funding and services. Together, these projects center lived experience, cultural context, and accessible information to support informed, community-driven solutions.
Staging Area Scenario Building Game for Relocation Home Building
This project involves creating an interactive scenario-building game that explores the setup of staging areas for housing construction projects in remote Alaskan communities that are relocating due to the impacts of climate change. The game will help participants understand the logistical, environmental, and operational considerations involved in constructing 5, 20, or 50 homes under challenging conditions.
The Typhoon Halong Media Annotated Bibliography Project
Examines media coverage of the storm’s impact on Alaska Native communities, focusing on systemic policy gaps contributing to their housing crisis and the cultural implications of housing insecurity. The project aims to enhance understanding of sociopolitical issues affecting relocation planning and explores the trauma associated with the region's unique environmental vulnerabilities. It will compile sources into an annotated bibliography with visuals.
The Mold Stories Project
Inspired by a community research assistant in Western Alaska who highlighted the need for research focused on the health impacts of mold in homes. The project collects stories from residents in remote communities to explore effective ways to share resources and remediation practices for addressing mold issues. The goal is to empower these communities by providing methods for mitigation and connecting them with experts for additional assistance.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Housing Resource Guide and Regional Directory Project
Designed to help navigate the complex network of home funding, design, construction, and maintenance in Alaska’s remote Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. In addition to housing resources, the project includes an alphabetized regional directory for the 48 communities in the YK Delta with contact information for entities in each. The 2026 guide will serve as a small-scale prototype of a larger, updateable online resource, which will be refined with Alaskan stakeholders. Printed copies will be distributed to communities and stakeholders.