Design That Matters
Design that Matters (DtM) is a nonprofit design company that collaborates with social entrepreneurs to help them offer better services to the poor in developing countries.
Founded in 2001 by a group of graduate students at the MIT Media Lab, DtM’s design service involves a collaborative process by which students and faculty at schools such as MIT and Stanford, along with volunteer professionals from companies such as IDEO and SolidWorks, design new tools to improve life for communities in need.
SolidWorks has been a top corporate partner for Design that Matters since 2003, offering financial and in-kind support high-quality, low-cost design services to social entrepreneurs around the world.
SolidWorks’ financial support has taken the form of licenses of SolidWorks CAD software, as well as personal support and mentorship from founders and top executives. SolidWorks’ contributions to DtM’s work over the last five years includes monetary donations, four donated CAD licenses, and participation as a Leader sponsor at DtM’s inaugural dinner in 2007. Early in 2008, SolidWorks was also among the first donors to contribute in a substantial way to DtM’s 2008 Capacity Building Campaign.
SolidWorks’ consistent financial and in-kind support of DtM’s mission has allowed the organization to provide a low-cost design service to clients and to document the life-changing products that result from this collaborative design process. SolidWorks’ timely contribution to DtM’s Capacity Building Campaign this year has allowed the organization to build a runway of sustainability while researching and developing new projects.
SolidWorks’ founders and top executives also have often mentored DtM in business and fundraising strategies. The presence of SolidWorks’ CEO and representatives at both inaugural benefit dinner and at 5th Anniversary Open House events demonstrated to the DtM community SolidWorks’ commitment to the work of Design that Matters.
For more information about the Design that Matters, visit http://www.designthatmatters.org/
