DAP 16 Furnishing Forward: Media Advisory

When tasked with the challenge of not only designing modern furniture, but also creating durable furniture to be used at the Dinner Program for Homeless Women center in Washington, DC, 22 teen Design Apprenticeship Program (DAP) participants rose to the occasion. DAP 16 participants learned about modern furniture design, sustainability, and durability through collaboration with local furniture designer Daniel Donnelly, touring Design Within Reach Studios in Adams Morgan, and investigating “green” building materials during class sessions at the Museum.  Throughout six weeks of working with teachers, volunteers, and Dinner Program for Homeless Women staff, DAP participants, using the design process, produced usable pieces of furniture that will provide seating and storage at the local organization.  

Adding another chapter to the program DAP coordinators and volunteer professionals helped participants fine tune their design skills and helped them understand the importance of helping the community. The projects built in chapter 16 of DAP will live on beyond the fall semester program.

DAP 16 was held in conjunction with the Museum’s exhibition Marcel Breuer: Design and Architecture, which is open for viewing November 3, 2007 through February 17, 2008. The final presentation on Sunday, November 18 coincides with Home Stories: Identity & Architecture, a family program connected to Lasting Foundations: The Art of Architecture in Africa. After exploring the painted houses of the Ndebele people of Africa and other types of African architecture, participants will then be invited to design and build their own “house” that communicates ideas about their identity. DAP students will assist visitors with the family program and be available to answer questions about their furniture.

Design Apprenticeship Program is sponsored by The McGraw-Hill Companies and The Prince Charitable Trusts. Additional support for outreach programs is provided by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; The Capital Group Companies; The Clark Charitable Foundation; and The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, among others.