Organization Launch

2015

 
 
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Challenge

Five years after Design for America started a network of on-campus, student-run, student-led design studios ,the number of alumni quickly surpassed the number of students. This led a group of passionate alum to the question, ”How Can We... provide mutual, meaningful value to alums post-graduation?”

 

Along with three fellow passionate alums, we self-organized over google hangout to apply HCD methods to define the mission, vision, and strategy for DFA’s alumni organization. We launched the DFA Collaborative Alumni Network in 2013 and continued iterating on the concept over two years to deliver on the promise of mutual value.

My Role & Approach

 

- 1 four-hour workshop, “the DFA Creators Exchange” with alum and seasoned design professionals
- 1 event track secured for alums during DFA annual conference
- 6-7 speaking engagements for alums created and filled from the Collab
- 4-day Design Sprint with 20 DFA alum from across the country
- 1 website launched

Artifacts

 

Results

  • Our alum-driven results were so successful that the Collaborative was acquired by DFA National in 2017. Yay!  Follow on Medium.