This past year, DIA Design Guild were able to get some stuff done:

1. Sent out 10 monthly newsletters with editorial pieces from the editor-of-the-month. Thanks to all the editors: Alex, Caroline, Jenny, Justin, Nehar, and Grace!
2. Hosted 4 Read Together Book Clubs. Thanks, Julia!
3. Hosted the last DIA Game Club jam. Thanks, Justin and Alex for leading the charge and Felisha, Vanya, Jenny, and Elizabeth M. for making it worthwhile. Never stop making! 
4. Embarked on our first partnership with May First Movement Technology to redesign their website.
   1. Thank you, Jes, Jamie, Jaime, and all the board members and community members we interviewed at May First.
   2. Thank you, mentors Jorge, Julia, and Grace for your leadership.
   3. Thank you, apprentices: Beula, Jenny, Nehar, Freddy, Katia, and Linh. Thank you, Miguel and Amanda, for stepping in to help with the Spanish-language interviews. Special thanks to Elizabeth M. for introducing this opportunity.
   4. Read part 1 of our project experience: Conducting discovery research with May First (Part 1 of 4) 
5. Completed our first collaboration with Kynesius to design their e-commerce website. Thank you, Will, Matt, Steve, and Joy at Kynesius for being such easy-going clients. Thank you, apprentices Jenny and Linh. 
6. Continued to manage social media for IAC for IAC24 and IAC25. IAC has been a community that DIA has been working with for the past 3 years.
   1. For IAC24, which was hosted in Seattle, the DIA folks to thank are Caroline and Jenny.
   2. We thank Caroline and Felicia  for continuing to support the IAC community in preparation for IAC25 Philadelphia.
7. Migrated and launched the first version of the DIA UX academy from over a 100 files and formats into 1 space. Thank you, Justin, Alex, and Kerry, for helping out and testing things. While the UX academy is still under development, this goal of developing our own curriculum is one step closer to reality.
8. Continued year 2 of the DIA apprentice experience research study.
   1. In 2022, we started this continuous research project to assess the value and impact of the DIA apprentice program. This past year, the research project was a great learning opportunity for our researchers to dig into key moments of interaction that apprentices have with DIA and how we could improve our communication.
   2. Thank you to the mentors who gave guidance and assistance along the way: Alesha Arp, Adam Shreve, John Khuu, Julia, and Grace.
   3. Thank you, apprentice team Caroline, Alex, and Beula for your dedication and continued support to improving our DIA apprentice program.
9. Completed cohort 4 of the DIA Apprentice Program.
   1. This past year, Julia took over the role as the apprenticeship program director to plan, develop, and manage the program, coordinating apprentice-mentor matches, program events, and biweekly updates to the apprentice community. We thank you for all that you do to keep this free program going.
   2. Gratitude and appreciation for your time, dedication, and passion this past year, mentors: Adam S., Amy S., Anna V., Daria A., Elizabeth A., Isabel A., Laura C., Mehul M., Sruthi V., Courtney T., and Julia D.
10. Most importantly, thank you to all the apprentices this past year and previous years. Without you, DIA Design Guild would not find the motivation to keep the apprentice program going.

Looking ahead to 2025

• Applications for the 2025 cohort apprentice program will open later this month. 
• The website redesign project for May First will be wrapping up
• We started on a new sponsored project, a new collaboration with Sandie Markle. 
• We have continuing partnerships with the Brinkerhoff Evaluation Institute, IAC, World Information Architecture Association, and Pitch Studios. 

It’s going to be a good year. 

Feedback wanted

Your feedback matters. Let us know what you think about the content we are sharing, and let us know if there are any topics you’d like us to include. 

About DIA Design Guild

DIA Design Guild is a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to providing design education and career development opportunities to people from underrepresented backgrounds. We provide a space for people to learn from each other, collaborate on projects, and share their work with the community. We offer a variety of programs, including apprenticeships, workshops, and mentorships. Our goal is to help people find their way through the UX and tech industry and to create a more diverse, inclusive, and accessible design community.