Multiply your impact on design education x10!

Most career exploration programs in the field of design require students to pay for the experience, which makes our SEED paid high school internship unique.

We believe the power of design belongs to everyone. And a more equitable design industry requires a workforce that reflects a diversity of lived experiences, to the benefit of all. That's why we invest in making careers in design accessible to students who have historically been excluded.

Our SEED program is primarily funded through state and city workforce training grants, but our funders require us to raise a 10 percent private match. Your donation, no matter the size, helps us fulfill this requirement, multiplying the value of your gift by 10.

Meet Mohammed Arham, a rising sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in architecture. As a high school student in Cambridge, MA, Arham spent three summers as a SEED intern, and is returning this summer as a SEED teaching assistant.

I first got involved with SEED during the summer of my sophomore year of high school. At the time I had a general interest in design and thought this opportunity seemed intriguing. The engaging programming and meaningful mentorship and collaboration fostered my interest in architecture. By SEED 3 I had decided to pursue architecture in college, and my experiences with the Hideo Sasaki Foundation were central in getting me there.

This summer I’m returning as a SEED teaching assistant to repeat the cycle of education and mentorship that helped me get to where I am today.

When you invest in our SEED interns, you're also supporting intergenerational design and Greater Boston communities. Each summer we develop our SEED projects in partnership with our Design Grants alum and other local nonprofits. Interns gain design experience, and nonprofits receive valuable ideas and collateral.

Last summer, Arham worked with the 2023 Design Grants team EarlyEducatorSpace 2.0 from the Boston Housing Authority (BHA).

As a Design Grants team, EarlyEducatorSpace 2.0 spent 10 months on their project with volunteer support from professional designers. The team explored design solutions for the collection of outdoor courtyards at the BHA’s West Broadway development that promote climate resilience, are sustainable, and support intergenerational use.

Following the grant, Arham kicked off the project's next phase. He conducted a site visit, community engagement, and data analysis. By the end of the summer, he proposed a meaningful design that integrated resident and staff priorities for usability and maintenance.

This work is deeply meaningful, and it takes all of us.

We need your investment today for a more equitable tomorrow!