Our Story
Founded by Jocelyn Chen in September 2018, DESIGNCONNECT emerged from a vision to bridge the gap in the visual arts ecosystem in Detroit. Recognizing the lack of pathways to stable careers in creative design for middle and high school students, Jocelyn leveraged her experience in the design industry to create opportunities for underrepresented youth. With a child poverty rate exceeding 50% in Detroit, the need for accessible arts education is critical. Since launching programming at the Detroit School of Arts in January 2019, DESIGNCONNECT has been dedicated to connecting students with mentorship, exposure, and financial assistance in the creative design field.