Summer Exploratory Experience in Design (SEED), a youth employment program aimed at introducing high school students to careers in design, kicked off this summer with 42 high school and 8 college students, an increase of almost 400% over 2022. SEED is a six-week paid internship introducing high school students to the world of design careers. This growth is possible thanks to our partnerships with SuccessLink from the City of Boston’s Office of Youth Employment Opportunity, and with the Metro North Workforce Board through the Commonwealth Corporation. Sasaki has also significantly increased its mentorship capacity to support our interns.
This year’s selection process was competitive, with an impressive pool of candidates. Our 2023 high school interns represent 10 Boston neighborhoods and Belmont, Cambridge, Everett, Melrose, Somerville, and Watertown. Our students also represent 13 Boston schools and 9 regional schools. Our program offers an introduction to design principles, as well as a more advanced curriculum for students with a design background.
Our beginner SEED students are creating conceptual designs for a new urban farm for Groundwork Somerville, a local environmental justice organization facing displacement due to the rapid development in their community. Groundwork Somerville is a 2022 Design Grants winner, and through their grant process expressed a need for growth. Their goals include a larger space for farming and harvesting, the creation of indoor and outdoor educational spaces, a marketplace, and space for their youth employees to rest onsite.
Our advanced SEED students are participating in the inaugural 10 World Trade Youth Design Competition, organized by Isenberg Projects. Students compete against teams from YouthBuild Boston and Digital Ready to design a creative kiosk for arts-based nonprofits and artists to feature their creative work in the lobby. The design will be evaluated on design innovation, implementation, and functionality. Students will present their proposals on August 16, when a jury will decide on at least one project to be built. Boston Global Investors (BGI) is the lead developer behind 10 World Trade, a 17-story commercial building designed by Sasaki that is currently under construction, and that is built with the goal of implementing a vision for diversity, accessibility, and culture.
Senior SEED Leadership:
- Folajimi Bademosi, 2023 youth manager; graduate student at Clark University; youth program design, management, and execution
- Emily Menard, 2023 senior teaching assistant; graduate student at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Our teaching assistants will mentor and play a crucial role in helping the SEED teams comprehend design concepts, visualization tools, and design software.
- Ezekiel Lucas, architecture student, Boston Architectural College
- Sabiha Miahjee, landscape architecture student, Northeastern University (2020 alum)
- Noushin Nawal, architecture student, Boston Architectural College
- Nisarga Ramesh, architecture student, Northeastern University
- Ruth Saenz, architecture student, UMass Amherst
- Jillian Ziegler, landscape architecture student, Boston Architectural College
Find out more at the Sasaki Foundation
Images Courtesy of the Sasaki Foundation