We’d like to spotlight the new creative networking site Designism Connects. Developed by the Art Directors Club and Idealist, Designism Connects helps like-minded designers and non-profits reach one another and begin collaborative projects geared toward social betterment.

By making profiles at the site, causes advertise their history and their work’s focus, as well as how designers can help — through developing video, redesigning websites and the like. Creatives detail their specialties, interests and past experience in design. A search allows both sides to come together and work toward shared visions of change.

The concept behind the networking venture first came in 2006 when ADC presented “Designism,” a discussion of how advertising and design can be used as instruments of social and political change. A year later, they joined ihaveanidea in revisiting the debate with “Designism 2.0.”

The talk’s been talked. Now the walks being walked. With Designism Connects, ADC and Idealist seek to realize the potential of advertising in affecting social growth.