Now recruiting volunteers for the SDF 2026 Festival Planning Team!

Are you passionate about design and ready to help shape the future of the Seattle Design Festival? We’re seeking dedicated, community-minded volunteers to join the SDF 2025 Planning Team. You can engage in one of two roles: Planning Team Member or Chair.

Why Join?

Be part of a collaborative team that brings the region’s largest design event to life—engaging 7,000+ attendees each year. Volunteers gain hands-on experience in project management, community engagement, leadership, and design-driven public programming.

Planning Team Volunteers

We’re recruiting 10–12 committed volunteers to help plan and deliver SDF 2026.

Commitment:

• 5–6 hours per month on average
• 10–30 hours in August during Festival implementation
• Hourly meetings bi-weekly from February–August, primarily virtual
• Consistent communication with partners and teammates outside of meetings
• Independent work in subcommittees (e.g., proposal review, partner support, logistics) aligned with Festival elements such as Built Installations, Pop-Ups, Mainstage, & Mixers
• In-person operational support of Festival Events, August 14-20 REQUIRED

What We’re Looking For:

• Dependability: You attend meetings, follow through on tasks, and maintain steady communication.
• Collaboration: You support team needs and contribute to a positive, solutions-oriented environment.
• Relationship Building: You communicate confidently with community partners to help bring their ideas to life.
• Passion: You’re excited about design, urbanism, arts, public programming, or event production—no professional design experience required.

Chair Role

Want to play a leading role in shaping SDF 2026? We’re seeking two Planning Chairs to partner with staff and guide the full Festival planning process.

Chairs will:

• Lead project management of the Festival schedule, staffing, and budget
• Mentor Planning Team Members and support strong subgroup leadership
• Actively promote the Festival through personal/professional networks
• Serve as ambassadors for SDF, cultivating and maintaining citywide relationships
• Work with Festival staff to create and run bi-weekly committee meetings, including documentation
• Help maintain the SDF Google Drive to keep plans organized and accessible
• Model the consistency, communication, and collaboration that ensure a successful Festival

Join Us

By serving as a Planning Team Volunteer or Chair, you’ll help shape one of Seattle’s most beloved community-generated design events—and build lasting relationships while doing it. To apply, please email a brief statement of interest to info@seadesignfest.org by January 30. Selected candidates may be invited to a short interview/orientation. We look forward to welcoming you to the SDF 2026 team!