Our Crowdfunding Groups
Help us expand the reach of design thinking by offering a no-cost camp to the students who need it most. The Design Connections program introduces rising 10th-12th grade students from backgrounds underrepresented in the design profession to the fundamentals of design in an immersive and equitable studio environment. Following a successful first year, our goal is to grow and sustain this program long-term so that more students have the opportunity to discover design.
The camp is hosted by the Design Lab for K-12 Education and Outreach, and participants are led by current College of Design undergraduate and graduate students. They explore what it means to create an interdisciplinary design project while connecting with other students after the program through additional engagement opportunities, like weekend workshops and mentorship opportunities.
Any rising 10th-12th grade North Carolina student from an underrepresented background is encouraged to apply between January and April 2024, with priority placement given to students meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Attends a public school that receives Title I federal funding
- Is eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals
- Attends a school located in a Tier 1 or Tier 2 North Carolina county based on the Department of Commerce’s 2024 N.C. County Distress Rankings.
We believe that both design and the world benefit from having diverse voices and perspectives. We appreciate your support as we strive to foster diversity and inclusiveness in design.
Budget Breakdown:
$1,000 covers meals, lodging, supplies and operational and staff expenses for a student to attend six days and five nights of overnight camp in summer 2024. Our goal of $5,000 will allow us to support five students’ residential experiences.
Funds will be placed in the K-12 Design Lab Fund. If the project does not meet its fundraising goal, exceeds the project need, or the project cannot be completed, the funds will be used for the overall enhancement of the K-12 Design Lab Fund.
Gifts are received by the NC State University Foundation, Inc. and may be distributed to an affiliated foundation that manages the fund supported by the donor.
