One of my favorite sentiments that I repeatedly hear from students interested in Designmatters goes something like this: “I want to learn to use my skills to design something that will actually help people, as opposed to just designing a toaster or smartphone…”
I believe it is that sense of social responsibility that drives the field of social impact. And it is that drive to use one’s skills and talents to change the world for the better that is at the heart of Designmatters; and is also an inherent trait all Designmatters’ students, faculty, partners, staff and allies share.
As the Designmatters Coordinator, I’m lucky to witness all stages of a Designmatters project, from the initial spark of an idea to the implementation of 14-week studios where partners, students and faculty come together to create innovative solutions to real-world problems. Along the way, there are many moving parts that require attention and handling. And it is my responsibility to make sure that those moving parts all get taken care of in order to ensure that every single Designmatters studio, event and project is a memorable experience for everyone involved.
I especially hope that my work with Designmatters provides meaningful opportunities and experiences for the students, as one of this department’s – and my – responsibilities is to help students on their paths to becoming the next generation of great designers and social innovators who will work to make the world just a little bit better.
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Carolline Kim is the Coordinator for Designmatters. Her prior work in the space of social impact and education have included positions as a Program Specialist for the national award-winning organization Girls Inc. Carolline’s written works have been published in various Los Angeles-based pop culture magazines (Swindle Magazine, Edible Los Angeles Magazine) as well as in international publications (kasino A4, Dramabeans). Carolline donates her skills and time as Marketing Coordinator for a small arts organization, MNS, whose goal is to raise funds and awareness for various charities, both local and international, through creative events in the Los Angeles area. She has worked with MNS since its inception in 2010. Carolline is a Los Angeles native, and graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
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