Welcome to Organization of Black Designers
OBD is a national professional organization of interior, industrial, architectural, fashion and graphic designers dedicated to promoting the visibility, empowerment, education and interaction of its membership and the understanding and value that diverse design perspectives contribute to world culture and commerce.
OBD 35TH ANNIVERSARY STUDENT DONATION
OBD launched in the Fall of 1990 as the country’s first multi-discipline Black design organization aimed to assist professional designers and usher students into the professional ranks. We have been fortunate enough to many design luminaries is our midst over the last three plus decades. People such as Dr. Noel Mayo, Ruth Carter, Sheila Bridges, Ed Welburn, Rod Shade, Barbara Laurie, Jeffrey Banks, Dre Clemmons, E. Scott Morris, Earl Lucas, Jason Murphy, Tracy Reese and many others.
With your assistance we would like to create more . . . . . .
HELP US KEEP DESIGN STUDENTS IN DESIGN AND CREATIVE!
OBD Scholarship Endowment & Student Design School Assistance Program
“It is hard to be it, if you can’t see it.”
David Rice, OBD Chairman
We are going to help send kids to design school and/or stay in. Why? Because there are a lot of talented young people out there who have been hearing a lot about STEM programs, and we are totally in favor of the STEM initiative, but as many of us have discovered, a letter has been left out. The letter “A” for Art. So, now we are hearing a new term and it is STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering,Art, Mathematics.
we want them to have them to have the ability to concentrate on being students without having to find a job etc and having a clear head to be creative
In the last several years the enrollment of African Americans in America’s design and art schools has been dropping alarmingly. Historically ranging from an average of 3-7% has declined in most design schools whether they are private or public university or college of design and art programs.
Why the decline in enrollments? High tuition costs and the lack of exposure to design and the arts as viable, good livelihood producing, professions. Simply, if a kid never sees a car designer or an architect or has never heard of industrial design or architecture — and there are far too many who have not — then the chances are that no matter how much potential talent one has, that career will not be considered as a possible career path.
Your Help is Needed
With your help minority high school freshmen and sophomore students will be able to participate in onsite visits to design and art schools across the country. Students who show talent and interest in design and art will be some assistance in continuing their studies
Those students who desire will be eligible for a mentoring program designed to further their interest in design and the arts.
Our Goal
To offer 35 students 1000.00 by February 2026 to aid them with supplies or programs.
The greater goal is to raise $350,000 for first quarter 2026 with the ultimate goal being 3.5 Million by October 2026 to create a self-sustaining scholarship
What can you do?
Simply donate $5, $10, 20, $100, or whatever you can give to help OBD fund the Anniversary Scholarship Endowment & Student Design School Assistance Program.
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/HomeBlackDesign
“The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” President Barack Obama
OBD DONATION LINK
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/HomeBlackDesign
