Envisioning Our Future
The Board of Trustees of the Design Foundation oversees its strategic planning and implementation. The Design Foundation Board works in tandem with Industrial Designers Society of America's Board of Directors to ensure ongoing activities and new initiatives serve both the industrial design community and the public at large. To foster the working relationship between the two entities, the Design Foundation’s President serves as an ex-officio member on IDSA’s Board of Directors.
In 2020, the Board of Trustees, under the direction of our Board President Dee Dunn, IDSA, set out to rethink our positioning as an organization and to reflect on the types of charitable efforts we should commit our resources to in the future. Through these collaborative exercises, plans were set in place to develop a new blueprint for our future. We have a long journey ahead of us, but our hope is that by bolstering our existing programming, introducing new opportunities, and remaining adaptable to respond to the needs of our community, we can create a more profound impact in the lives of young industrial designers across the country.
The Relationship Between Industrial Designers Society of America and the Design Foundation
Design Foundation was established by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) in 2001 and is a separate legal entity; however, the two organizations work hand-in-hand and share commonalities with their work and purpose. Design Foundation focuses its efforts on K-12 through collegiate level communities. IDSA supports aspiring designers' transition from higher education into professional practice and beyond. Both organizations are advocates for the field of industrial design and maintain efforts aimed at raising awareness among the general public of industrial design as a necessary and respected career.
By engaging community members and partners and bridging design with timely issues and initiatives, Design Foundation collaborates with IDSA to be responsive to the present and prepared for the future.
Learn more about IDSA at IDSA.org