YOUTH DESIGN RALLIES WITH CARNIVAL-CUPCAKES-AND-CELEBRATION
Whether you won big playing classic carnival games, lucked out at the cupcake raffle, took a dive in the bouncy house, or sketched on the live art wall – Youth Design’s “Rally for Change” Celebration was certainly not your “typical chicken dinner.” We have all been to our fair share of those. The kind where you keep looking at your program to determine how much more you have to endure or if there will be an opportunity to make a quick exit. A complete snooze-fest! Well you’ll never experience that at a Youth Design production! The “Rally for Change” Celebration showcased the spirit of an organization committed to using design as a vehicle to place urban high school students on the path to a professional career.
Members of the YD Class of 2012 with Denise Korn, Founder, Ricardo Rodriguez, Board Member and Event Chair, Javier Cortes, Board Member
Alisa Aronson, Education Specialist and Dhakir Warren, Program Director
Excitement filled the rooms! Creative energy was flowing, in addition to those fantastic specialty cocktails — served to adults only of course! The real magic was the celebration of all of our young, diverse, emerging designers. The innovators and trend setters of tomorrow. The young men and women, many of whom face difficult circumstances in their daily lives, but are nonetheless passionate and dedicated to developing their creative talents and themselves. Guests were inspired by the Youth Designers and saw first hand that their passion is real, their talent is real and their opportunities are endless!
Abraham Nyei, Youth Design Class of 2012 with Designer Mentor Kate Hensley, Suffolk Construction In Front of the Live Art Wall
Youth Design may be small now, but we are mighty and we are growing! We will continue to rally the design community and encourage the private sector to roll up their sleeves and invest in mentoring the next generation of diverse designers. And we will continue to deliver high-quality programing to bring about life-changing impact on the lives of the students we serve.
Good Times Working the Cupcake Raffle!!
Playing to Win Big! Event Attendees Try Their Luck and Compete for Luxurious Prizes From Boston’s Top Designers and Lifestyle Brands
Thank you to all of our event sponsors, design mentor firms and volunteers.We value your dedication and support of Youth Design. You play a critical role in our growth and ongoing success!
And congratulations again to Youth Design’s Mentor of the Year Award Recipients. We value your leadership and your work to impact the lives of Boston Youth!
Linda Nathan Mentor of the Year
Jason Stevens “Up and Coming” Mentor of the Year
Jason Talbot “Up and Coming” Mentor of the Year
We look forward to seeing you all again next year and thank you again for RALLYING WITH US!
Ricardo Rodriguez and Michael Kelley, Event Chairs
Denise Korn, Founder and Dhakir Warren, Program Director
Learning By Design
Hello Youth Designers, friends, supporters and volunteers! My name is Darleny Javier and I am the new Executive Administrative Assistant to Denise Korn. I am excited to be working in a capacity where I am able support both Youth Design and Korn Design.
Admittedly, I knew very little of Youth Design, prior to attending the recent Graphic Advocacy Workshop held at MassArt. Innovative, engaging and universally life changing; these are just a few words that characterize Youth Design, a program that has more than ordinary significance. Youth Designers are bright, creative, charming and motivated teens dedicated to exploring their creative talents.
Collin Miller - Youth Design Class of 2012 - Graphic Advocacy Workshop
The extent of design education offered to Youth Designers is impressive. This recent workshop began with Youth Designers developing and creating artwork using basic techniques. Youth Designers were pushed to expand their design thinking in relation to determining their creative approach to the assignment.
Alisa Aronson, Assistant Professor of Design, MassArt and Youth Design Education Specialist Leading Design Project - Graphic Advocacy Workshop
Afterwards, Youth Designers were placed into smaller groups where the objective was to conduct a design review of each of their completed designs. This gave Youth Designers an opportunity to showcase their abstract thinking and analytical skills.
Sample of student work from Design Elements and Principles hands-on exercise
In addition to the incredible design project Youth Designers completed Jesse Hayley, Founder of South End Textiles and Producer at Elevate delivered a personal lecture. Jesse shared examples of his favorite projects, his path to becoming a designer and where he derives his inspiration.
Jesse Haley, Founder, South End Textiles and Producer, Elevate Communications
In the afternoon, Youth Designers learned about to the “Say Something Poster Project” founded by Jason Stevens. The project provides youth with an avenue to share their voice on social issues through design.
“Say Something Poster Project” founded by Jason Stevens
Afterwards, Youth Designers visited the MassArt Gallery to see the Graphic Advocacy Exhibit. Elizabeth Resnick MassArt Professor and Chair of the Graphic Design Department curated the exhibit, which features 120 works from 32 countries around the world.
As a medium for social change, posters record struggles for peace, social justice, environmental defense, and liberation from oppression. From the confrontational and political, to the promotional, persuasive and educational, the poster in all forms is a vehicle for the public dissemination of ideas, information, and opinion.
MassArt Graphic Advocacy Exhibit
While viewing the exhibit, Youth Designers analyzed the work by comparing clarity of message against the posters supporting images. During this activity, I became excited by the ability of Youth Designers to express their design critique with poise and confidence.
It is clear to me that each Youth designer is unique and affable in his or her own way. However, they share several common traits with passion devotion and love of Design being the most salient.
Youth Design Class of 2012
Youth design is more than an organization that offers a dynamic program. It has evolved to become an endless supply of resources and a source of exposure to the design industry by the next generation of diverse design professionals.
Keep Designing!!!
Darleny Javier
Meet the Designers: Real Talk With Real Designers Speaker Series
January 2013 marked the launch of Youth Design’s Meet the Designers: Real Talk With Real Designers Speaker Series.
Denise Korn, Principal of Korn Design and Youth Design Founder shares her expertise in Graphic Design and Brand Strategy with students at Boston Arts Academy
Meet the Designers brings small, diverse groups of high-profile design professionals into urban public schools, where they share the personal journeys that led them into their field.
Madison Park Technical and Vocational High School Students Listening Attentively During Meet the Designers Presentation
These lively conversations bring the profession to life by giving students exposure to the breadth of career opportunities available in design. Thank you to all of the designers who support our work to provide access to career pathways in design to talented urban youth from Boston. Our work would not be possible without the support and advocacy of committed designers from around the nation! Youth Design salutes you all!!!
If you would like to learn more about Youth Design and how you can get involved and support our movement to help shape the next generation of diverse design professionals visit www.youthdesign.org or contact Youth Design Program Manager, Dhakir Warren at dhakir@youthdesign.org.
Changing the Complexion of the Footwear Design Industry
D’Wayne Edwards, Youth Design supporter and former lead designer for Nike’s Jordan Brand, is working to “change the complexion of the footwear design industry” and has taken his message to the global media! Click on the image below to view D’Wayne’s recent appearance on CNN’s Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien and to learn more about Pensole Footwear Design Academy, an innovative design education program founded by D’Wayne in 2010.
D’wayne, Youth Design celebrates you and salutes your efforts to provide talented young design students-regardless of socio-economic backgrounds-an opportunity to learn from the industry’s leading designers and provide the footwear industry with the next generation of diverse design professionals!
Shoe Designer Leaves Nike to Teach Others
10 for 10 Rally for Change Campaign
We are excited to announce the launch of our 10 for 10 Rally For Change Campaign in celebration of Youth Design’s 10th Anniversary!
Give whatever you can in multiples of 10 to help us expand our programming, increase awareness of Youth Design nationwide, and provide even more opportunities for talented urban youth to turn their creative passion into a vibrant design career! Your gift will be applied directly to our curriculum development, workshop planning, and mentorship programs.
Spread the word and help us lead the charge by donating today!
CAUSE CONSULTING SPONSORS YOUTH DESIGNERS TAKES ACTION DESIGN COMPETITION
Cause Consulting Principals Nikki Korn and Mark Feldman with First Place Winner Nora Nwagu
The Youth Design Takes Action Annual Design Competition is a core component of Youth Design’s summer program. Developed with the goal of providing our Youth Designer students with an avenue to share their voice around social issues that are important to them through a combination of stunning visual images and powerful calls to action. The competition serves as a platform for students to mobilize and spread awareness around issues of social justice with the aim of creating lasting change!
Who better to lead our Youth Design students with the development of powerful cause campaigns than our friends and longtime supporters at Cause Consulting. Cause Consulting is a leading business strategy firm that specializes in the integration of corporate citizenship with business and marketing disciplines in order to create value for companies, brands and society. We are thankful to Cause Consulting for their generosity illustrated through their annual sponsorship of the Youth Designers Take Action design competition. Moreover, we applaud Cause Consutling’s commitment to empowering urban youth to make their voices heard and exposing them to the positive impact that cause campaigns can have on our local communities and the world at large!
Click here to learn more about the 2012 Youth Design Takes Action Design Competition and to view the top 10 winning entries!
Youth Design Remembers Bill Moggridge
On September 8, 2012, one of the greatest design minds of our time, Bill Moggridge, passed away. The NEA Design Program Staff had the great privilege to work closely with Bill in the planning and execution of the Social Impact Design Summit hosted by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in February 2012. Bill won every design award possible and – among other incredible feats - designed the first laptop, co-founded the game-changing firm IDEO, provided critical leadership in the emergent field of interaction design. A great advocator for design and its many positive impacts on the world, his accomplishments at the Museum are also huge, including beginning the most significant capital project in its history.We will deeply miss his kindness, humor, and generosity of spirit with which he approached every conversation and project. Read about Bill and his inspiring contributions to the design field.
Youth Designer: Tavi Francis Week 3
At Kirkwood, I learned about the complexity of creating and choosing ideas that that are beneficial for both parties. Always check the product multiple times and never assume or expect that you know everything your client wants. I saw that at Kirkwood Printing and I constantly see it at my job in the creative department of Partners In Health.
I think I’m still figuring out how to balance work and personal experiences. I’m able to reflect on what I see, what I learn and how I can apply that to my life once this program is over. As time progresses forward, I’m changing. I don’t think I want to notice the change yet. I just want to let it take its course. When I see it, I will see it.
My Youth Designers Take Action project is taking a slow thoughtful pace. The thought process was very difficult because I had to “marry” my ideas. The term “marry” was first mentioned to me by my mentors. This means you hold onto the idea you think is best without the thought of “dating” other ideas. I was truly in love with this idea. Both my mentor and art director said, “take a moment and break it down.” Then, I should ask myself what I’m most passionate about, narrow it down to two things and then decide from there.
Choosing ideas was a frustrating process. At first my virtual mentor and I were two ships passing in the night. It was a little agitating but we got on the same page after a couple emails and a phone meeting. It was a really good experience even though I was initially bothered. I took it as a lesson for controlling impulsiveness and being insightful about the situation. I never told my mentors abut the frustration because in the end the experience was well worth it.
Tavi Francis, Youth Design Class of 2012
Nicole Armstrong, Mentor, Partners in Health
Youth Designer: Jeru Berry Week 3
Am I the only person that thought State Street would actually be on a street named State? Besides that I work at State Street Corporation in Downtown Boston… So yeah I’m kind of a big deal right? Wrong, in fact I’m slowly finding out that “Jeru” is only a big deal in my own world. In the beautiful world of design, your productivity and work is THE BIG DEAL. We have this dress code at State Street. At first, seeing everyone around me so dressed up was a little intimidating. A horror film I’ve seen with killers dressed up in ties and Calvin Klein pants was not really scary, but seeing people dressed up in an environment I’m not used to, was. Over the course of the summer I found out that the people I work with are just like a lot of us… Just in nice clothes.
Looks have proven to be very deceiving this summer. I found myself getting very comfortable at State Street. Working with Joe and Cara has been totally worth it. They introduced to me to yet again more tools and tricks I can use in my designs. The types of design they produce for State Street are different from the work I did last year at the great Alphabet Arm. I learned a lot this summer and that was my goal coming into the program. I wanted to expand my knowledge of the design programs I am familiar with. I am honored by the opportunity to participate in this program for the past two summers. More so, I am honored to say I had mentors these past two summers who in my eyes are BIG DEALS in the world of design… Oh and Joe just had a baby, kind of big deal right? RIGHT!
Jeru Berry, Youth Design Class of 2011-2012
Joseph Kowan, Mentor, State Street
Cara Jennison, Mentor, State Street
Thursday Morning Workshop: Reebok Tour
Thursday Morning Workshop Youth Design toured a company known for their athletic shoes, apparel and innovation since 1895, Reebok. Youth Design saw cutting edge fitness equipment in Reebok’s Cross Fit, and the freshest fashion and shoe designs on the creative floor. Meeting with tradesmen who constructed shoes by hand and on the computer, Youth Designers received great advice on how to advance in the design field.
The tour finished with a scavenger hunt. After being spilt into groups, scavenger hunt questions led Youth Designers between stations focused on color, innovation, graphic design, clothing trends, footwear trends and team building. The groups played outdoor games as a team, chose color schemes for Reebok shoes, created classic clothing trends, arranged trend colors and saw the different stages of Reebok’s logo.
After enjoying their scavenger haunt and delicious lunch Youth Designers were given Reebok book bags filled products and a coupon for a custom pair of Reeboks inside.
Youth Design would like to thank the PIC volunteers and all the staff at Reebok who made this possible!