DESIGNCONNECT is a nonprofit organization in metro Detroit that provides career pathways in creative design for inner-city middle and high school students through exposure, mentoring, and financial assistance. Since 2018, DESIGNCONNECT has organized and conducted in-school presentations, workshops, and field trips for students at Detroit School of Arts and other high schools in Detroit with the objective of providing a higher level understanding of advanced education and careers in creative design. It has also donated art supplies and digital equipment to the Detroit School of Arts, and sponsored Detroit high school students for summer programs at the College for Creative Studies. In addition, DESIGNCONNECT, partnering with DTE Beacon Park Foundation and Downtown Detroit Partnership, launched a city-wide design competition for Detroit high school students earlier this year. Using design as a platform, the competition will showcase the creative voice of youth in Detroit, and promote creative design as a discipline that is highly integrated to science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM). Most recently, DESIGNCONNECT has partnered with Future 4 Teens and the Diane Morgan Group to honor nursing home frontline heroes through weekly care packages of snacks, wellness tips, and cards designed by students in Detroit. So far, over 900 packages have been delivered. The project will continue through June and is in need of support.
