About us

Board of Directors

LEE DAVIS, CO-executive DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR creative impact, MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART (MICA)

CHRIs KASABACH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WATSON FOUNDATIOn

Ruki neuhold-Ravikumar, Leader & Consultant in the Art, Design, Culture & Educational Sector

 

Emeritus:

william Drenttel, co-founder, Winterhouse Institute

JESSICA HELFAND, co-founder, Winterhouse institute; SENIOR CRITIC, YALE UNIVERSITY; FOUNDING EDITOR, DESIGN OBSERVER

 

The Winterhouse Institute articulates the value of design education for social impact.

 

We were founded in 2006 by visionary designers and AIGA medalists William Drenttel and Jessica Helfand to act as a catalyst, coordinator and champion of collective action and collaboration for social impact across the design industry. 

We are a community of practice of design educators and practitioners committed to inspiring one another, sharing best practices, and developing new methodologies and tools to promote excellence in design education for social impact. 

The Institute is a true collective and collaborative endeavor. None of our activities would exist if it weren't for the volunteer effort and passion of our Board of Directors, Founders Circle and Advisory Council, and for the generous financial and in-kind assistance of our Supporters.

Thank you! 


Founders Circle

The Winterhouse Founders Circle was established to honor and acknowledge the individuals who played a seminal role in establishing the Winterhouse Institute in its early, formative years. Members of the Founders Circle include: 

Mariana Amatullo, Parsons School of Design, The New School

Scott Boylston, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)

Charlie Cannon, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Allan Chochinov, School of Visual Arts (SVA)

lee davis, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)

Liz Gerber, Northwestern University

Phil Hamlett, Academy of Art University

Terry Irwin, Carnegie Mellon University

Deb Johnson, Pratt Institute

Jon Kolko, Austin Center for Design

Julie Lasky, The New York Times

Marcia Lausen, University of Illinois at Chicago

David Mohney, Michael Graves College, Kean University

Lara Penin, Parsons School of Design, The New School

Natacha Poggio, University of Houston-Downtown

Tony Sheldon, Yale School of Management

Cameron Tonkinwise, University of technology Sydney

Mike Weikert, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)


Advisory Council (2020 - present)

The Advisory Council was established to formalize the role of Winterhouse Symposium participants in the development of the vision, strategy and programming of the Institute. Advisory Council members are appointed by the Board of Directors for a one-year, renewable term. Current members of the Advisory Council include: 

NATACHA POGGIO, University of Houston-Downtown

Eduardo Staszowski, Parsons School of Design, The New School

Susan Verba, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

ANDREA WOLLENSAK, CONNECTICUT COLLEGE

Joe Zinter, YALE UNIVERSITY

Mariana Amatullo, Parsons School of Design, The New School

george aye, greater good studio

Charlie Cannon, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Allan Chochinov, School of Visual Arts (SVA)

Liz Gerber, Northwestern University

phil hamlett, academy of art university

TERRY IRWIN, CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

MARCIA LAUSEN, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGo

liz ogbu, university of california, berkeley

Lara Penin, Parsons School of Design, The New School


Supporters (2006 - present)

We'd like to thank the following individuals and institutions for their generous financial and in-kind support:   

studio/lab

TEACH FOR ALL

Trust for Mutual Understanding

university of illinois at chicago school of design

YALE CENTER FOR ENGINEERING INNOVATION AND DESIGN

YALE SCHOOL OF FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

YALE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

 

AIGA

Adobe

The Aspen Institute

AUTODESK Foundation

Carnegie Mellon University School of Design

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design museum

Craighton Berman

Design Observer Group

Google for Nonprofits 

Hieronymus

THE HOTCHKISS SCHOOl

MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART (MICA) CENTER FOR SOCIAL DESIGN

ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION

SALESFORCE.COM FOUNDATION

SAPPI FINE PAPER 

SAPPI IDEAS THAT MATTER

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN (SCAD)


The Winterhouse Institute is an IRS 501c3 not-for-profit organization, incorporated in the state of connecticut. Tax ID 45-1652985.