Our 2011 report Growth by Design detailed the powerful economic impact of New York’s architecture and design sectors and concluded that far more could be done to harness the design sector’s growth potential. Our 2013 commentary 8 Ways to Grow New York's Design Sector urged city agencies to take advantage of New York's unparalleled pool of talented designers for city projcets. In August 2013, seeking to act on this recommendation, the NYC Department of Design and Construction created the Built/NYC program as a concrete way for New York City to stimulate its creative economy.

Built/NYC is an innovative pilot program launched to support the city’s product and industrial design sector with funding provided by the New York City Council. The program commissions site-specific furnishings for city construction projects from local product designers. Commissioned pieces might include interior elements such as furniture, lighting fixtures, or textiles.