I was knocked off my feet by the value we received from the SEE students in just their first visit.”Bob Kilinski
VP – Brand Development and Communications RadioShack .
Why SEE?
• SEE Press Release: Dec 5
• SEE Press Release: Oct 22
• SEE Press Release: Aug 14
• SEE Press Release: Aug 2
• SEE Press Release: Jun 14
• SEE Press Release: May 17
Origins
SEE builds professional collaborations that help youths discover their creative voice and career potential.
In 2004, SEE was born from the belief that creative, pre-professional learning opportunities can be an incredible source of power for under-served youth. Its founders were motivated by five major concerns:
What is SEE?
SEE is a project-based youth development learning program that takes place in a professional environment. Participants gain intensive design, technology and entrepreneurship training as they develop original graphic, product, or apparel designs from concept to prototype in partnership with a company partner. Past projects include bags and outerwear for Marc Ecko Enterprises, graphic design for New York Cares and Abada Capoeira, shoes for Skechers, watches for Callanen/Timex, package design for Dr. Miracles Hair Care Products, skateboards for Zoo York, cars for Nissan, and electronics for RadioShack.
Tools: An interactive ‘workbook’ is created for each project that begins with the overall history and anatomy of that particular product, and ends with an ‘in-flight checklist’ of what the student must include in their professional ‘tech pack’ that can be emailed to a manufacturing facility to produce the prototype. Before launching a project, each group of students participates in a six-week intensive boot camp where they learn basic art and design skills (drawing, perspective, color theory, 2-D design) as well as Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator. The program is led by educators, college students, and professional design volunteers.
Skills: The aim of SEE is not to make all participants into designers – but to build on the proven capacity of design education to give them valuable transferable skills that can be used in every area of their lives. SEE’s evaluation shows that participants gain the following skills:
The Lab (Started January 2005): Located in a non-school professional studio setting, the Lab serves participants after-school and/or on weekends, who are selected competitively from all over New York City through an application process that requires a written essay and a rigorous interview. SEE accepts less than 10% of those who apply. The selection criteria are: a strong interest in design, the ability to make the major time commitment and a willingness to overcome challenges with maturity.
School Partnerships (Started September 2006): SEE currently partners with four alternative high schools, working with students who were selected competitively within the school based on their interest in design and their willingness to work hard. Taught by a combination of SEE-trained teachers at their schools plus SEE staff, their work takes place both in their school building as well as the Lab’s professional studio. Alternative schools are great partners because they share SEE’s belief in the importance of student-directed learning, creativity, and apprenticeship learning. On a practical level, they are a good fit because their schedules allow for large blocks of flexible learning time, and for learning to take place in non-school settings. Big Picture Schools, one of our partners, are the Gates Foundation’s preferred high school reform model because of their extremely impressive outcomes when it comes to student achievement when working with the most underserved youth. School partnerships currently serve select schools of the following school networks: Big Picture Company, Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning Schools, Alternative High School Initiative and Black Alliance for Educational Opportunities. Past and current school partners include: The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (The Met) of Providence, RI; Bronx Guild High School of Bronx, NY; Humanities Prep High School of New York City; Urban Assembly School of Music and Art of Brooklyn, NY; and High School of Recording Arts (HSRA) of Minneapolis, MN. SEE has plans to expand to schools in San Diego, CA and Camden, NJ with the generous support of the Nathan Cummings Foundation.
Evaluation
“He went from low attendance and lack of motivation to a young man who is responsible, reliable and takes initiative in all of his work.” – History Teacher
“He is the single most improved student I’ve had this year. I recommend him for the honors track next year, something that I never would have done six months ago. He is truly amazing.” – Geometry Teacher
Independent evaluators report that SEE increases young people’s personal, academic and professional skills. [For a full list, click on skills.] One of the most interesting findings was from school personnel who reported a number of positive changes in students since they began participating in SEE. These include:
What makes SEE different?
As demonstrated above, SEE is different because it’s multidimensional – no one else connects youth and industry in this variety of ways. SEE is not just an internship, it allows students to apply their creativity to real, large-scale marketing and manufacturing processes and interact with the wide variety of professionals who are involved.
For youth:
• SEE Press Release: Dec 5
• SEE Press Release: Oct 22
• SEE Press Release: Aug 14
• SEE Press Release: Aug 2
• SEE Press Release: Jun 14
• SEE Press Release: May 17
Origins
SEE builds professional collaborations that help youths discover their creative voice and career potential.
In 2004, SEE was born from the belief that creative, pre-professional learning opportunities can be an incredible source of power for under-served youth. Its founders were motivated by five major concerns:
- Low standards and a culture of mediocrity in schools and afterschool programs
- Few youth programs that engaged youth using design
- The rarity of programs that gave participants a taste of the real professional world
- A rapidly growing digital divide
- A lack of diversity in the design professions
What is SEE?
SEE is a project-based youth development learning program that takes place in a professional environment. Participants gain intensive design, technology and entrepreneurship training as they develop original graphic, product, or apparel designs from concept to prototype in partnership with a company partner. Past projects include bags and outerwear for Marc Ecko Enterprises, graphic design for New York Cares and Abada Capoeira, shoes for Skechers, watches for Callanen/Timex, package design for Dr. Miracles Hair Care Products, skateboards for Zoo York, cars for Nissan, and electronics for RadioShack.
Tools: An interactive ‘workbook’ is created for each project that begins with the overall history and anatomy of that particular product, and ends with an ‘in-flight checklist’ of what the student must include in their professional ‘tech pack’ that can be emailed to a manufacturing facility to produce the prototype. Before launching a project, each group of students participates in a six-week intensive boot camp where they learn basic art and design skills (drawing, perspective, color theory, 2-D design) as well as Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator. The program is led by educators, college students, and professional design volunteers.
Skills: The aim of SEE is not to make all participants into designers – but to build on the proven capacity of design education to give them valuable transferable skills that can be used in every area of their lives. SEE’s evaluation shows that participants gain the following skills:
- Professional: public speaking, project management, time management, Photoshop & Illustrator, information management, market research, and demystifying brands & consumer products.
- Socio-emotional: problem-solving, communication, constructive self and peer criticism, conflict resolution, collaboration, and resiliency.
- Academic: critical thinking, research, literacy, math, science, social studies. For more, click here.
The Lab (Started January 2005): Located in a non-school professional studio setting, the Lab serves participants after-school and/or on weekends, who are selected competitively from all over New York City through an application process that requires a written essay and a rigorous interview. SEE accepts less than 10% of those who apply. The selection criteria are: a strong interest in design, the ability to make the major time commitment and a willingness to overcome challenges with maturity.
School Partnerships (Started September 2006): SEE currently partners with four alternative high schools, working with students who were selected competitively within the school based on their interest in design and their willingness to work hard. Taught by a combination of SEE-trained teachers at their schools plus SEE staff, their work takes place both in their school building as well as the Lab’s professional studio. Alternative schools are great partners because they share SEE’s belief in the importance of student-directed learning, creativity, and apprenticeship learning. On a practical level, they are a good fit because their schedules allow for large blocks of flexible learning time, and for learning to take place in non-school settings. Big Picture Schools, one of our partners, are the Gates Foundation’s preferred high school reform model because of their extremely impressive outcomes when it comes to student achievement when working with the most underserved youth. School partnerships currently serve select schools of the following school networks: Big Picture Company, Outward Bound’s Expeditionary Learning Schools, Alternative High School Initiative and Black Alliance for Educational Opportunities. Past and current school partners include: The Metropolitan Regional Career and Technical Center (The Met) of Providence, RI; Bronx Guild High School of Bronx, NY; Humanities Prep High School of New York City; Urban Assembly School of Music and Art of Brooklyn, NY; and High School of Recording Arts (HSRA) of Minneapolis, MN. SEE has plans to expand to schools in San Diego, CA and Camden, NJ with the generous support of the Nathan Cummings Foundation.
Evaluation
“He went from low attendance and lack of motivation to a young man who is responsible, reliable and takes initiative in all of his work.” – History Teacher
“He is the single most improved student I’ve had this year. I recommend him for the honors track next year, something that I never would have done six months ago. He is truly amazing.” – Geometry Teacher
Independent evaluators report that SEE increases young people’s personal, academic and professional skills. [For a full list, click on skills.] One of the most interesting findings was from school personnel who reported a number of positive changes in students since they began participating in SEE. These include:
- Individual Skills: self confidence/awareness, trying new things/positive risk taking, time management/organization, overall enthusiasm and happiness, and controlling behavior and avoiding discipline problems.
- Interpersonal Skills: demonstrating leadership, working on a team, responsibility at school, relationship with peers, respecting self/others, using appropriate means to get attention/help.
- Academic Skills: focus and follow through on assignments, paying attention and listening in class, following instructions, demonstrating interest in school work, and performing academically.
What makes SEE different?
As demonstrated above, SEE is different because it’s multidimensional – no one else connects youth and industry in this variety of ways. SEE is not just an internship, it allows students to apply their creativity to real, large-scale marketing and manufacturing processes and interact with the wide variety of professionals who are involved.
For youth:
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SEE is much more than a creative outlet, or business training for youth. SEE’s combination of design and entrepreneurship learning (grounded in educational research and proven by evaluators) invests in the creative potential of young people, helping them to discover their own possibilities as income-generators and worldclass thinkers. - The final outcome is either conceptual or a one of a kind hand made piece. In SEE, they create products and using real industry tools and processes.
- In SEE, youth work closely with a number of diverse professionals in a variety of roles which helps them to identify their own interests and mentors, while learning how all these roles fit together to drive industry.
- Working as creative professionals, SEE youth know that their work adds value to corporate partners. The companies are not just doing them a favor by allowing them to be an intern – instead they know that adults take them seriously, and they feel proud and respected for their accomplishments.
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SEE gives companies more than just a cause marketing opportunity, but also market research, fresh creative ideas, and trend forecasting as well. - By partnering with SEE, companies can have a deep personal impact on young people by doing what they normally do everyday, and its not a burden.