The Making Center at Parsons

Opened in 2016, the Making Center at Parsons School of Design is a 35,000-square-foot space offering rich opportunities that focus on teaching the skills to create and make in New York. Through her strategic vision and generous gift of $7 million to support the project, Kay Unger, a Parsons alumna, fashion designer, chair of the Parsons Board of Governors, and Trustee of The New School, is helping support the next generation of designers learn the skills necessary to create and produce in local and sustainable ways.

“I can think of no better legacy than to mentor and encourage future generations of pioneering and creative designers to push past the conventional,” said Unger. “I am inspired by the innovative work of current Parsons students and I am thrilled my gift will go to the Making Center, where students will collaborate on unique projects and focus on the importance of making here in New York. I want to effect meaningful change and inspire mentors to continue to share their expertise and support.”

Opened in 2016, the Making Center features a vast array of equipment and resources, including 3D technology and sustainable fabrics, as well as traditional tools and machinery. Cutting-edge textile machines allow students to design and prototype projects ranging from fashion and fine art to media technology, architecture, and interiors, all with a dedication to sustainability and a focus on creating ecofriendly products.

“The Making Center provides a platform for students to create socially relevant and environmentally responsible products that will change the way we interact with the world through design,” said Unger.

Housed across two floors in the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, the space underscores The New School’s commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration. Students from all the university’s schools have access to the space, where they can work together on a variety of interdisciplinary projects.

“An influential designer and entrepreneur in her own right, Kay is dedicated to helping the next generation of designers realize their potential,” said Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons. “The Making Center is essential to the future of design education, and with Kay’s generosity and leadership, our students have an extraordinary space in which to marry making and imagination and develop the techniques needed to succeed in an increasingly interconnected and sustainably designed world.”