DFA Days of Summer Kickoff!
This post was originally published on June 19, 2020.
Kickoff Call featuring Liz Gerber, Faculty Founder of DFADFA Days of Summer is here! Join us for the choose-your-own adventure summer programming that explores and celebrates the DFA community’s dedication to community-centered design during times of unprecedented change. Tickets are free, registration is required, and donations are always welcome! While some events are for those in the DFA community only, the DFA Sparks Series and Industry Reviews are open to the public. Below, read about the events in detail. Sign up today!
Want to join?
Register for as many free events as you’d like! Donations to the Network are always encouraged.
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Share which DFA Days of Summer events you’re attending on your social media and tag @design4america.
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Download a summer-themed DFA Zoom Background for all your upcoming events.
INSPIRE
Sparks Series
Audience: Free and open to the public
Date: Every Wednesday at 1pm CST from June 17 – Aug 12
The fulcrum of DFA Days of Summer is the Sparks Series. These weekly webinars are a trademark of the DFA spirit, bringing reflections, resources, and inspiration right to your living room.
June 24
Bringing Ethics to Design Education with Eugene Korsunskiy, Assistant Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth College; hosted by DFA Alumni Michelle Pannone, Assistant Professor at Marywood University. Eugene will share his approach to innovation in teaching with the resilient DFA network. Learn about Eugene’s observations, reflections and challenges for design education at this time of exceptional change. In the meantime, check out Eugene’s amazing zoom-friendly warmups and icebreakers.
July 1
Leadership and Equity: Addressing the Gaps with Rich Hollant, Founder of Co:Lab
July 8
Jen Sabella, Co-Founder, Director of Strategy at Block Club Chicago; hosted by Cole Imperi, founder of The American Thanatologist
July 15
Remote Collaboration: A MURAL Tutorial with Jeff Eyet, Education Lead at MURAL and Nicholas Paredes, Managing Director at BLDG 20; hosted by DFA Fellow Ross Brunetti. Join Jeff and Ross for this special two hour program that teaches you the nuances of virtual whiteboard collaboration, setting up systems, and using MURAL for any design project!
July 22
Mapping Change and Visual Archives with Eric Rodenbeck, Founder/CEO/Creative Director at Stamen; hosted by Alden Burke.
July 29
Mobilizing Change Makers for Justice with De Nichols, Principal of Design & Social Practice, Civic Creatives, hosted by DFA Alumni Kelly Wisneski. Hear about De’s work with Design as Protest (DAP), a collaborative effort co-organized by four black designers—De Nichols, Bryan C. Lee, Jr., Taylor Holloway, and Mike Ford—that endeavors to hold the design industry accountable in using our collective power to reverse the harms that architecture and design fields have caused to black people and communities.
August 5
Double Feature!
1:00-1:50 cst – Community Design and Hugh Forrest, Director of SXSW Interactive Festival; hosted by DFA Fellow Glory Dang.
2:00-2:50 cst – Project Scoping Jam Presentations. Student and alumni teams share out the National Challenges they created during the Project Scoping Jams; hosted by DFA Fellow Ross Brunetti
August 12
Michael Ellsworth, Gabriel Stromberg, and Corey Gutch of Civilization; hosted by Hugh Weber of Design Observer
COLLABORATE
Project Scoping Jams
Audience: DFA Students and Alumni. Sparks presentation is open to all!
Date: August 5, 2020
This Summer, DFA students and alumni are working together to author the next set of challenges for the DFA National Challenge Library. Multidisciplinary, remote teams will research, discuss, and scope challenges they’re passionate about for other DFA students to use for their own projects for years to come.
Public team presentation is on August 5 as part of the Sparks Series.
Research Project Teams:
Civic Engagement led by DFA WashU’s Jane Gormley
Quality Education led by DFA Rice’s Michael Moran
Food Access + Impact led by DFA WashU’s Jamie Xu
Sustainability led by DFA NYU’s Akshit Modi
Mental + Physical Health led by DFA UIC’s Manuela Burek and DFA RISD|Brown’s Cherilyn Tan
Resume Review
Audience: DFA Students and Alumni
Date: Tuesday, June 23 at 6:00 pm CST
Share your resume, get peer feedback, and learn from the DFA community in this discussion-based, small-group review format. Whether you just got started or are looking for tips to add the cherry on top, this event is perfect for both students and alumni.
This event is facilitated by DFA Duke alum Regan Fiascone and DFA U Washington student leader Tori Teng.
Portfolio Review
Audience: DFA Students and Alumni
Date: Thursday, June 25 at 6:00 pm CST
Share your portfolio, get peer feedback, and learn from the DFA community in this discussion-based, small-group review format. Whether you just got started or are looking for tips to add the cherry on top, this event is perfect for both students and alumni.
This event is facilitated by Steelcase Global Manager of Social Innovation Adam Weiler and DFA U Washington student leader Anna Schmitz.
Industry Review: Human-Centered Design with Artefact and IBM
Audience: Free and open to the public
Date: Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00 pm CST
Your design journey provides invaluable skills and experience that are applicable to professional industries, highly desired by employers and companies, and worthy of sharing with the world.
Learn how you can tailor your professional materials to your industry in this broadcasted panel critique sessions. Our industry experts will critique a select few submitted resumes and portfolios in a public conversation about career pathways in human-centered design. Featured panelists from Artefact and IBM.
Industry Review: Design in Government with Lab at OPM, USDS, Deloitte
Audience: Free and open to the public
Date: Tuesday, July 23 at 1:00 pm CST
Learn how you can tailor your professional materials to your industry in this broadcasted panel critique sessions. Our industry experts will critique a select few submitted resumes and portfolios in a public conversation about career pathways in civic innovation. Featured panelists include Arianne Miller from Lab at OPM, Caroline Smith from USDS, and Victoria Long from Deloitte.
MURAL Mondays: Certification
Audience: DFA Mentors, Alumni + Students
Date: July 20, July 27, and August 3 at 6:00 pm CST
Plan to attend all three sessions if you register.
Remote collaboration is more important now than ever, so equip yourself with the tools you need to facilitate from a distance by attending the MURAL Monday sessions, taught by MURAL Education Lead Jeff Eyet and DFA Coach Nicholas Paredes. The entire student, alumni, and mentor network is invited—no MURAL experience necessary. Complete this three-session training program to receive MURAL a badge.
CONNECT
Pen Pal Program
Audience: DFA Alumni + Friends
Date: June 17
Register for a pen pal (or multiple!) here, and you’ll get paired up with your pal during the first week of DFA Days of Summer (June 17th-19th). The summer season of Pen Pals has already started—but you’re always welcome to connect with other DFAers on Slack and LinkedIn!
DFA Studio Kick-Off
Audience: All DFA Students + Mentors
Date: July 31 at 1:00 pm CST
Kickoff a new year of impact with 40 studios in the DFAmily! Join your fellow DFAers to hear about new project opportunities in Fall, get inspired to make change, and participate in the annual jumping photo. Open to all DFA students (studio leads, team leads, team members, and everything in between) and DFA mentors.
DFA studio leads and team leads should plan on attending both this DFA Studio Kick-Off and the DFA Studio Leadership Kick-Off.
Leadership Kick-Off
Audience: DFA Studio Leadership
Date: August 6 at 1:00 pm CST
DFA student leaders across the country: Get excited for Fall 2020! This is your chance to connect virtually, share experiences, and set goals for the new year with your leadership peers. Meet each other in breakout sessions and learn about all the ways DFA National can support you with running your studio and leading your teams.
DFA studio leads and team leads should plan on attending both the DFA Studio Kick-Off and this DFA Studio Leadership Kick-Off.
