Gift from alum Karen Swett Conway catalyzes exploratory design and teaching at CED
The College of Environmental Design is pleased to announce it has received a $1 million gift to sustain the college’s leadership in design from alum Karen Swett Conway (BA Architecture 1982). The Design Futures fund and endowment aim to position CED at the forefront of creative new modes of design practice and teaching.
“We’re grateful to Karen for this farsighted gift that will cultivate a culture of investigation in the teaching of exploratory design,” says William W. Wurster Dean Renee Y. Chow.
“It recognizes CED’s commitment to design as inquiry, where every design proposition, from its inception, is rooted in purpose and impact. This is how we cultivate the future visionaries and problem-solvers that the world urgently needs.”
Conway, an architect, was eager to support Dean Chow’s vision of catalyzing new forms of design practice and pedagogy. “Berkeley was where I discovered architecture and I want to contribute to the ongoing success of the college,” she says.
“Giving CED faculty the opportunity to explore new forms of practice, which will inform their teaching, is essential for sustaining the quality and rigor of design education and the profession.”
A Natural Fit: Aligning Philanthropy with Mission and Values
Supporting CED was a natural fit for Conway. She values her undergraduate years in the college, when she first became immersed in the process of design and discovered the satisfaction of being able to hold the end result of her hard work in her hand. “Plus, it was really fun,” she recalls.
Conway’s support of CED aligns with her other philanthropy. She and her husband support their alma maters, and those of their children, because they know that tuition alone does not cover the costs of educating students.
Conway is a board member at MASS Design Group, which as a nonprofit design firm is forging new models of practice that foreground social equity and the health of the planet. “It’s a nice confluence,” says Conway, who notes that several MASS Design Group architects have taught at CED in recent years, including co-founder Sierra Bainbridge, who was the recipient of CED’s 2024 Rupp Prize.
Investing in impactful discovery and innovation
The Design Futures Fund establishes summer seed awards for faculty working on groundbreaking, discipline-defining projects. These awards will enable faculty to test ideas that have the potential to transform into substantial projects that can compete for major external funding, fuel publications and creative output, and position CED faculty as thought leaders in their fields. New discoveries will be integrated into teaching, bringing innovative methods and ideas into design studios and courses.
Conway’s gift also funds the Design Futures endowment in support of other initiatives in cutting-edge design and teaching. “This flexible future funding is crucial to sustain CED’s mission-driven approach to design for generations to come,” says Chow.
Make a difference: Invest in institutions you believe in
For other CED alums who are thinking about giving back, Conway advises identifying something that is meaningful to you and where your involvement can make a difference.
“I look to support institutions I trust and where I believe in the mission and the leadership. I trust CED and want to support whatever the school needs at this moment. I also want to set an example for others who may have the means to invest in the future of design education.”