DESIGNCONNECT Quarterly Update // December 2019
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to YOU from DESIGNCONNECT!
The last three months for DESIGNCONNECT have been eventful and rewarding. We welcomed Olga Stella, Executive Director of Design Core Detroit, to our board of directors, and Leah Barterian as our Communications and Marketing Manager. We have worked hard to advance our mission by organizing field trips, in-school workshops, panel discussions, as well as portfolio reviews for high school students in Detroit.
A DAY AT ROSSETTI
In October, the Detroit School of Arts students and staff were hosted by ROSSETTI, a 50-year old architecture firm in downtown Detroit, for a morning lecture and hands-on tour of the firm. The students were coached about different aspects of architectural design, including project management, interior design, concept creation, graphic design and so much more. Our students walked away with inspiration, and that inspiration has carried over into what they are doing in their own classrooms at Detroit School of Arts!
VIDEO GAME DESIGN WORKSHOP
Also in October, Grand Circus Detroit, a computer programming training facility located in downtown Detroit, hosted DSA students and staff for a Game Design Workshop as part of Detroit Design Month. Representatives from Scotland’s Abertay University lectured about video game development, giving students a unique perspective on alternative pathways in design and technology.
RHONDA WALKER FOUNDATION EVENT
Near the end of October, DESIGNCONNECT partnered with The Rhonda Walker Foundation to host a “Design Career Panel Discussion” at the Boys and Girls Club. Teenage girls from across the city of Detroit joined us for this hands on experience, receiving face-time with leading female designers representing a diverse range of visual arts disciplines including automotive design, health and wellness design, photography, architecture, landscape architecture and branded experiential design.
Having strong, female role models talking about how they made it in the design industry inspired every single young woman in that room. We watched their faces light up as they asked questions, chatted with the panelists, and participated in workshops where they could dive deeper into each field.
A huge thank you to our panelists for giving of their time to inspire young minds on a Saturday:
Katherine Chappelle, Gensler
Ujijji Davis, The Smith Group
Hèlene Kenny, Free-lance Branded Experiential Designer
Eleanor Oakes, College for Creative Studies & Darkroom Detroit
Crystal Windham, General Motors
Clarinda Barnett-Harrison, United Way
Bailey Morgan, Student at College for Creative Studies
TOUR @ COLLEGE for CREATIVE STUDIES
In early November, students from Detroit School of Arts (DSA) took a guided tour of two campuses at College for Creative Studies (CCS). This tour not only featured a peak into various visual arts programs available to students, but also opened design studios and production rooms that are not accessible by the general public, and so much more. DSA students were given information on how to apply and register for classes, as well as inside tips from student guides on best practices for studying at CCS. This was a first for many of the DSA students, and they left inspired and excited about their potential futures in creative fields!
HEALTH AND WELLNESS DESIGN PRESENTATION
Also in November, students at DSA took part in a presentation on Health and Wellness Design with Katherine Chappelle of Gensler.
The students learned about interior design with wellness, flow and relaxation in mind. Katherine showed them examples of work that she had done, as well as exposing them to the possibilities that design with a health focus has to offer them.
PORTFOLIO REVIEW
Earlier this month, TEN designers from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors and ROSSETTI, along with some of our board members, conducted portfolio reviews for junior and senior students at the Detroit School of Arts.The students were thrilled to show their art to industry experts, and received candid feedback and encouragement
All of them were literally glowing after the session and so excited to talk about who they were able to connect with!
INTRODUCING OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
We are thrilled to introduce you to our Executive Committee:
Chris Benjamin- Board Chair
Head of Jeep®, Chrysler and Advanced Interior Design, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
Beth Cafaro, JD - Board Vice Chair
Alissa Novoselick- Treasurer
Executive Director, Living Arts
Doris Gilles- Secretary
Co-founder and Executive Director, Project Beautiful - Inside And Out
WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT!
We will launch the “Design Our City” design competition for Detroit High School students in early 2020. This competition is sponsored by the DTE Energy Beacon Park Foundation and Downtown Detroit Partnership. The students will be asked to envision the city of Detroit in 2050 and design city spaces, wearables or transportation that will work to enhance the lives of a those who are physically challenged. The top designs will be chosen to compete for a cash prizes and showcased in late spring at an public event at Beacon Park in downtown Detroit.
In conjunction with the Design Our Future design competition, DESIGNCONNECT will be hosting a futuristic costume party fundraiser in early spring! Please keep your eyes open for invites and start planning your futuristic costume!
A SPECIAL THANKS
As always, we are grateful to our friends, partners and donors who have helped us in many different ways to achieve our mission. We especially want to recognize our friends at Fiat Chrysler Design and Doris and Ralph Gilles for their generous donation of art supplies and gift cards to the visual arts and design department at the Detroit School of Arts just before Christmas. The students were absolutely giddy over the new supplies and the teachers were incredibly thankful for the gift cards, which will allow them to stock their shelves with whatever is lacking.
Thank you again to all our supporters for being a part of the DESIGNCONNECT family!