GALA

Building upon the success of last year's stylish Dress for 2050 bash, DESIGNCONNECT is excited to present FASHION. DRIVING. FORWARD., a fundraising gala celebrating design at the intersection of fashion and mobility. Immerse in beautiful designs and indulge in fun activities while enjoying a strolling dinner and open bar. We will highlight the creative work of Detroit high school students who participate in our programs, as well as work by CCS students and professional designers.

Join us for the entire evening or just the afterglow party to dance the night away.

Main Event: 6:30pm - 9:30pm

Afterglow: 9:30pm - 11:30pm

Venue: College for Creative Studies Taubman Center, 460 W Baltimore St, Detroit, MI 48202

Attire: Automotive inspired fashion or cocktail attire.

Valet parking is complimentary for all.

TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS

Click the "TICKETS/DONATE" button at the top of the page to purchase tickets, secure a sponsorship, or simply donate. We are grateful for your support!

Ticket Types

General Admission - entry for the main event AND the afterglow. Strolling dinner and open bar until 9:30pm.

Afterglow Only Admission - entry for the afterglow starting at 9:30pm. Refreshments and cash bar from 9:30pm till 11:30pm.

Table of 8 - Eight general admission tickets with a reserved table.

Early-bird General Admission - discounted early-bird tickets available until September 23rd.

Sponsorship Levels

$30,000 (16 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor the expansion of design curriculum to CASS Tech high school in Detroit.

$10,000 (12 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor one full-year design course at the Detroit School of Arts.

$5,000 (10 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor one full-semester design course at the Detroit School of Arts.

$3,000 (8 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor material and supply for one design course at the Detroit School of Arts.

$1,000 (4 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor one desktop computer for the Detroit School of Arts.

$500 (2 VIP gala tickets) - Sponsor design summer camp scholarship for one Detroit student.

Please email info@designconnect4us.com if you require more detailed information.

PURPOSE

Funding raised through this campaign will be applied to our design curriculum initiatives being implemented at the Detroit School of Arts (DSA), a public high school in Detroit, as well as scholarships for Detroit students.

At the center of DC programming is a design-focused visual arts curriculum covering multiple creative design disciplines. During the 2021 – 2022 school year, we successfully offered coursework, field trips, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities for artistically inclined high school students in Detroit. For the 2022-2023 school year, we will expand our curriculum offerings greatly at DSA covering graphic design, entertainment art, fashion design, product and transportation design.

WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN

Donate to support our mission. Click "TICKETS/DONATE” at the top of this page.
Buy tickets to our upcoming FASHION. DRIVING. FORWARD. Gala on October 22. Click "TICKETS/DONATE” at the top of this page.
Become a team member or start a team to begin fundraising and invite your friends to contribute. Email info@designconnect4us.com if you wish to become a fundraising team member.
Be a sponsor of our gala!
Spread the word!

A RECAP OF LAST YEAR'S GALA

ABOUT DESIGNCONNECT

Located in Southeast Michigan, DESIGNCONNECT (DC) is a nonprofit organization that invests in future generations of visual artists in Detroit. In September 2018, DC was established to fill a lacuna in the visual arts ecosystem in Detroit. There were no clear pathways to financially stable careers in creative design for the middle and high school students in Detroit. Within arts education, artistically inclined students lacked the means to pursue their interests professionally. After months of research and meetings with stakeholders throughout the city, DC founder and Executive Director, Jocelyn Chen, utilized her connections and expertise from a career in the design industry to organize an experienced and knowledgeable Board of Directors to guide the programming and impact of the non-profit. In January 2019, DC launched its programming at the Detroit School of Arts (DSA) in Midtown Detroit, and by December 2019, DC formalized its official partnership with Detroit Public School Community District (DPSCD). By September 2020, DC celebrated the culmination of its first annual city-wide student Design Competition. By 2025, the organization plans to increase the depth of its initiatives with DSA by supporting a design curriculum covering six creative disciplines - graphic design, fashion design, transportation design, entertainment design, product design and interior design, and expand its partnership to additional Detroit public schools.

FASHION. DRIVING. FORWARD.

Fundraising campaign culminating in a gala event to support creative youth in Detroit