This gala event was in two acts: a dynamic awards ceremony featuring the theme “The Work Ahead” at the Huntington Theatre Company’s Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, followed by a killer dance party at the Boston Ballet.

The AIGA Boston Fellow Award recognizes a senior designer who has made a significant contribution to raising the standard of excellence in practice and conduct within the local or regional design community. This year’s recipient is our very own Denise Korn, principal of Korn Design and founder of Youth Design, an organization that provides career pathways in design-related industries for talented urban youth.

A panel of distinguished speakers shared how Denise has challenged, motivated, and supported them in their efforts to do creative, meaningful work in their professional and personal lives. Dancers from the Boston Ballet staged a special performance in honor of the occasion.

Meeting with tradesmen who constructed shoes, both by hand and on the computer, Youth Designers received great advice on how to advance in the design field.

The tour finished with a scavenger hunt.  After being spilt into groups, scavenger hunt questions led Youth Designers between stations focused on color, innovation, graphic design, clothing trends, footwear trends and team building.

The groups played outdoor games as a team, chose color schemes for Reebok shoes, created classic clothing trends, arranged trend colors and saw the different stages of Reebok’s logo. After enjoying their scavenger haunt and delicious lunch Youth Designers were given Reebok book bags filled products and a coupon for a custom pair of Reeboks inside.

Youth Design would like to thank the PIC volunteers and all the staff at Reebok who made this possible!

In honor of the Boston Fashion and Lifestyles Tour, Youth Design leadership and the ladies of Korn Design organized a glamorous night for our Youth Design girls. Youth Design girls were treated to refreshments and tables lined with designer goods from 5-7pm on Thursday August 2nd.

Each Youth Designer was allowed to take their fill of professional attire, casual gear, accessories and shoes. Laughter and smiles resonated through the Korn Design office, and the Youth Design girls left the closet with bags stocked to the brim with items to wear and share.

1. Craft the Perfect Cover Letter or Inquiry Email

This is the first impression they will have of you, so it should be tailored to them. Do some research on the company you are contacting and in your letter talk about something that interests you about them – it could be a project or an aspect of their philosophy. For extra credit, do some research about the person you are contacting, mention something you have in common, or simply let them know what inspires you about them.

2. Find a Personal Introduction

Your chances of landing an interview are much higher if you have a personal referral. Look wide in your network – one of your professors, family members, or perhaps even alumni from your school may have a personal connection to one of the firms you’re interested in. Ask them to make an introduction.

3. Participate in your Local Design Community

Attend events where you’ll run into the people you want to work with. Events by organizations such as AIGA and the Ad Club are a good place to start. Look out for principals or other members of the design firms you are interested in. Walk up to them and introduce yourself. Follow up with a handwritten note. For extra credit, volunteer and make a difference in these organizations – its a great way to meet people and demonstrate your capacity to accomplish tasks as a team player.

4. Design a Memorable Resume

Of course your resume should be impeccable: perfectly spelled and including all the details of your education, past work experience and relevant interests. As a designer, it should also be a reflection of your personality and creativity. It should be beautifully and functionally designed. A little wit and humor can show that you’d be easy and pleasant to work with. But tread lightly, don’t add too much decoration or too many jokes, which can distract from what is essential.

5. Build a Stellar Personal Website

In addition to showcasing your work, your portfolio site should embody the best example of what is possible on the Web, demonstrating that you are skilled in the latest web developments. Like your resume, it is a peek into who you are. Include engaging details about you or your interests that would inspire someone to want to meet you.

6. Polish your Portfolio

Every piece of work you show, on your website or during an interview, should be the best work you have ever seen. Take a look at the work in your portfolio. Is every piece the best work you have ever produced? Is it the best you can imagine it to be? Does it stand up to the best work of other designers you have seen, whether they are your peers or design stars that you admire? If the answer to any of these questions is no, keep working on it.

7. Be Politely Persistent

The firms with the best jobs typically have very little turnover. You want to make sure you are on their “radar” so when they do start looking to hire, you are already on their list. Start by asking for a 20 minute informational interview with one of the principals. Their first answer will probably be no. Be polite and persistent. Acknowledge that you know their schedules are busy, and share what a difference it would make for you to get their feedback and advice.

8. Ace the Interview

Make the best of your brief time with the person interviewing you by conducting a well choreographed, smooth presentation of your work. Practice with your friends, family members and instructors. When you arrive at the interview, while you are waiting, put your phone away, sit up straight, and take in the space around you. You can learn a lot about the firm by looking around, and you will feel more relaxed and confident by being fully present. Don’t use your website as the whole presentation during your interview – chances are the person interviewing you has already seen it. Also, make sure you are able to present your work as if you were meeting the person in a park – don’t assume that a wireless connection, or worse, a computer will be readily available for you to use.

9. Send a Thank You

Immediately after the interview, mail a hand written thank you note to the person who interviewed you. Have a blank one with a stamped envelope handy in your portfolio, so you can write it as soon as you’ve left the building and drop it in the nearest mail box. Extra points if you’ve designed and printed the note yourself.

10. Be Yourself

Every step of the way, have confidence in who you are and reach for your wildest dreams. Show your passion for design. Lead a full life. Be open, curious and disciplined. With persistence, focus, and a little luck, you’ll be sure to land your dream design job.

The morning started off on the grandstand overlooking the harbor. Youth Designers sat on the steps as Denise and Nikki Korn (Principal, Cause Consulting) started off the morning with a few words. Several Youth Designers stood up and shared how they’re progressing with their ideas for 2012 Youth Designers Take Action Design Competition and everyone had a short dialogue giving advice and discussing the process of creating a design for a cause.

Youth Designers were then split into 3 groups and led on a guided tour of the various exhibits on display at the ICA. Youth Designers were shown the permanent collection which included various photographic works, sculpture, and installations. They were then led to see the exhibition on view, titled “Some Pictures of the Infinite” by Josiah Mcehlheny. It was a really great experience for everyone and Youth Designers sparked some very insightful and thoughtful discussions with tour guides about the art and the message that it presented.

After the tour, the three groups congregated in the Art Lab for an hour-long meeting and general discussion. A few representatives of the ICA talked about teen programs available at the ICA. Following the ICA’s presentation, Denise took the stage and led a discussion with Youth Designers about their experiences at their internships so far. Youth Designers were invited to stand up and speak about their experience so far, how their expectations compare to the real thing, and anything else they wanted to reflect upon. It was a really great discussion with lots of sharing. Several Youth Designers who are in the program for their second year gave advice around dealing with struggles at work and how to be as efficient as possible.

We were honored to be included as part of the HOW Design conference studio tours while the conference was in Boston. Thanks to all the designers from across the country who visited us, we enjoyed meeting you!