Your gift powers design for all. As a volunteer-powered 501c(3) nonprofit, we rely on the generous giving of our supporters to bring free and affordable programs to 10,000+ people citywide every year.
SDF Team / People
Questions for our team?
About Proposing Festival Experience + Partnering:
Annalee Shum | AIA Seattle Assoc. Director of Programs + Community Engagement
About Press + Communications:
Bray Hayden | AIA Seattle Senior Communications Manager
About Volunteering:
Riyansha Goyal | AIA Seattle Programs Coordinator
About Sponsorship:
Andrea Aguilera | AIA Seattle Development Manager
Join the SDF’26 Planning Team
The Seattle Design Festival is organized and produced by a committed group of volunteers – the Festival Planning Team. They manage the Festival as a whole and produce specific components within the Festival. Together, this group connects communities and unleashes the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action through our annual Festival.
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.
Meet the SDF Council
The SDF Council guides SDF activities to deploy design to make a difference, to unleash the power of design for all and inspire action. The Council provides interdisciplinary leadership informing the annual theme and Festival elements, supports the SDF individual giving campaign, and facilitates connections with community groups and design partners. The Council should reflect the disciplinary diversity of the Festival.
About the SDF Board
The SDF Board of Directors advances our mission through strategic planning and fiduciary oversight – planning for sustainable growth and resource development. Directors are ambassadors for SDF, championing our mission, fostering transparency, and ensuring responsible conduct as we work together to positively impact our community.
Ariel Birtley | Ashwin Kamath | Erik Heironimus | Franci Virgili | Jake Woland | Janet Stephenson | Kirsten Dahlquist | Laura Ovsak | Matt Hutchins | Melissa Falcetti
Mitch Smith | Sarah Burk | Tyler Schaffer | Uwe Bergk
You can view the full AIA Seattle board here. Read the complete board role description to learn more about how our board functions, and our strategic partnership with AIA Seattle.