STUDENTS. DESIGN. NON-PROFITS.

Return Design is a design studio located on the campus of Olin College of Engineering that is comprised of college students who work with Tim Ferguson Sauder to deliver design solutions to nonprofit and art-related organizations. With the support of Return Design alums and a number of outside partners, the studio helps those who help others and are doing important things to effectively serve their clientele.

The Story

In 2004, designer Tim Ferguson Sauder was looking for a way to combine his love for design with his commitment to working for the common good. His solution? Return Design. Tim began Return Design in an empty closet in the Barrington Center for the Arts at Gordon College and it has since become a well-known design studio that has garnered international attention. In 2016, the studio moved to the Olin College of Engineering. Amidst the expansion and growth of the organization, its mission has remained unchanged: teaching students design in a way that supports nonprofits.

Return Design is as much about design solutions as it is about people--student designers and clients. Return Design hires talented students that are committed to the creative process, producing professional work, and providing helpful follow-through support to help clients utilize design effectively. After working with Return Design, interns have landed jobs with Oprah Magazine, Smashbox Studios, Sapient, Burton Snowboards, and Reebok.
 

The Space

Return Design is located in an open studio space on the ground floor of the Olin College library. Just steps away from multiple 3D printers, a computer lab with large format poster printing capability, a silkscreen setup and countless tools waiting to be checked out from the library. The studio's location allows for the end to end production of almost any creative endeavor.

(Images below taken at previous studio location at Gordon College.
New studio on Olin campus is currently under construction.)

Return Design is made possible by the generous support of Olin College of Engineering - an undergraduate engineering institution exploring innovative approaches to engineering education since its founding in 1997.