On the corner of Jack London Square in Oakland, BRIDGEGOOD students, mentors, and community members came together on a Saturday night to celebrate their achievements from 2024. Guests were able to enjoy a large variety of food, from chow mein, Lucky Three Seven G-Fire wings, pizzas, cupcakes, and alcoholic beverages. There were plenty of activities to take part in: a Polaroid booth, a screenprinting station, and bracelet-making tables. Raffle tickets were also sold to raise funds for BRIDGEGOOD, along with prizes such as merch from Adobe, the Las Vegas Raiders, and the San Jose Sharks.

Shaun Tai, the founder of the non-profit, started BRIDGEGOOD 15 years ago to help students from marginalized communities break into user experience (UX) design in tech. According to the BRIDGEGOOD website, “[b]iases in hiring and recruiting often exclude women and students of color from entering the technology workforce. Less than 22% of design employees in the tech workforce are Black (3.3%), Latino/a/x (8.6%), or Asian (9.3%), limiting access to high-wage, high-growth careers and halting the professional trajectories for communities of color.”

For many people joining the UX apprenticeship program, they come from different disciplines, such as graphic design, research, illustration, and program management. The apprenticeship helps them develop their strengths while also learning how to apply their skills to a UX design career.

BRIDGEGOOD provides students with resources and connections with employees from tech companies, such as Adobe and Google. Taria, former UX apprentice and now mentor and board member, talked about her experience and journey with BRIDGEGOOD, starting with her journey in 2019 and detailing how she now is a mentor to one of the current mentees in the group. She talks about how teaching each other is a cycle and it's really important to share what you learn with those who are starting their career.

Even as technology changes and AI presents new opportunities and challenges, Shaun stresses the importance of community and mentorship as the nonprofit’s mission. As BRIDGEGOOD continues to grow, it serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for young designers in the Bay Area.

Check out BRIDGEGOOD’s collaboration with Acrobat for Nonprofits here.

Feel Good w/ BRIDGEGOOD: Celebrating 2024

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Bites, beats, books - oh my! a chat with the mind behind meet me in sf