The Seattle Design Festival is a volunteer-powered organization and we appreciate your help to make the festival a success! We will have 70+ volunteer opportunities to help produce and document all of the amazing events and installations our community partners bring forward to the Festival.
There are several paths to engage as a volunteer. To find the right fit for you, consider how much time you want to commit to SDF, the impact you hope to have, and what strengths you think you can bring to the team!
– Connect with professionals, leaders and students in our community
– Contribute to and influence events that support innovative design
– Build a stronger and more cohesive Seattle design community
– Educate the public about how design directly affects their lives and communities
– Demonstrate your values, and fuel your passion!
The best reason to volunteer is to have fun and know that you’ve had a positive and influential effect on the city you love to live in and on the design movement!
We will have 70+ volunteer opportunities to help produce and document the 100+ events and installations of the Festival. These volunteers can sign up for shifts as short as 3 hours and will engage directly with the Festival Planning Team, attendees, and our design partners.
Learn more about the volunteer roles that will help bring SDF ’25: FEEDBACK to life!
To express interest- simply RSVP and join us at the Partner + Volunteer Social on July 31.
Are you looking for a long-term volunteer opportunity? 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 unleash the design thinker in everyone to illuminate Seattle’s challenges and ignite action through our annual Festival.
Review the call for the 2025 SDF Planning Team to understand this commitment! The call for next year’s Planning Team will launch this Novemeber.
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. Check out our amazing Council leaders!
If you would like to nominate yourself, or someone you know, please review the role description below and complete our nomination form!
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. Read the complete board role description to learn more about how our board functions, and our strategic partnership with AIA Seattle.
Nomination Process
SDF launches an open call for nominations each January, which is reviewed by the Membership Advancement Steering Committee, which recommends a slate of candidates for approval by the Seattle Design Festival Board of Directors in April. New directors are assigned to a steering committee based on the organization’s need and candidates’ individual skills and expertise. There are distinct positions that serve on both the AIA Seattle and Seattle Design Festival aligned boards, including the following steering committees: Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Development Committee and Membership Development Committee.
Review the full list of our Board of Directors.
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