NEW YORK –– Springboard to Design, a tuition-free theatrical design mentorship and education program for students from underrepresented communities, is now accepting applications for its 2026 program. This weeklong intensive offers high school students the chance to dive into the world of theatrical design — no experience required.
Springboard to Design (SB2D) is presented by Design Action and led by Tony Award-winning designers Clint Ramos and David Zinn. Through hands-on workshops, seminars, and access to Broadway and off-Broadway productions, students will explore set, costume, lighting, projection, and sound design under the mentorship of award-winning theatre professionals.
“Springboard to Design is close to my heart because it gives young artists from underrepresented communities the chance to see themselves in this industry,” says Clint Ramos, who also serves as Lincoln Center’s Artist-In-Residence. “This program affirms that they have the power to build meaningful, fulfilling careers.”
“Springboard to Design opens the door to possibilities students may never have realized were within reach,” says David Zinn. “Collaborating with award-winning designers and craftspeople, seeing productions, and experiencing the world behind-the-scenes allows students to grow their confidence, their creativity and their sense of community.“
Visit SpringboardtoDesign.com to apply and learn more.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Program Dates: July 19–25, 2026
Location: In 2026, the program will be back in The Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab housed in The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (NYC)
Cost: FREE — including tuition, housing, and supplies
Eligibility: SB2D was created as an opportunity for underrepresented high school students, including students who have limited or no access to theatre. Current high school seniors graduating in the spring of 2026 are eligible.
Eligible international students are welcome to apply.
Application Opens: September 15, 2025
Application Deadline: December 15, 2025
The application includes:
· A few short essays
· A brief introduction video
· One original piece of artwork
· A $25 application fee (waivers available upon request). *This application fee goes directly back into the program and helps keep the experience free for students.
Springboard to Design encourages and mentors high school students from underrepresented populations to explore the process of theatrical collaboration and the many avenues of American Theatre design. Led by renowned members of the contemporary theatre in the heart of NYC, the Springboard to Design curriculum includes workshops, seminars, and access to important work on and off Broadway. Instructors consist of award-winning artists who create a collaborative environment for students, as they explore costume, set, lighting, projection, hair, makeup, and sound design.
Springboard to Design is an initiative by Design Action, an intergenerational coalition of BIPOC and white designers working to end racial inequities in North American theatre. The program was incubated in collaboration with the American Theatre Wing in 2021. In the summer of 2025, Springboard to Design was hosted at The Harvey Fierstein Theatre Lab, housed in The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in the heart of Lincoln Center.
Springboard to Design was recognized by the 2022 and 2023 Anthem Awards as a Bronze Winner for Education, Arts, & Culture - Community Engagement.
Visit SpringboardtoDesign.com to apply and learn more.
ABOUT DESIGN ACTION
Design Action is an intergenerational coalition of BIPOC and white designers working to end racial inequities in the North American Theater by confronting racism in our workplace and forging new pathways into the industry for rising designers of color.
ABOUT CLINT RAMOS
Clint Ramos is an award-winning creative director, designer, and producer.
Most recently, he produced Theater Group Asia’s sold-out production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, starring Lea Salonga, Arielle Jacobs and featuring a cast of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans.
He currently serves as the Visual Director for Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City, where he reimagines the entire Lincoln Center campus each summer into a vibrant stage for more than 300 events that srve New York City’s diverse communities. He also serves as Artist-in-Residence at Lincoln Center.
Ramos was a lead producer of the groundbreaking Broadway musical Here Lies Love, and is currently the Producing Creative Director for Encores! at New York City Center. There, he has spearheaded acclaimed projects including Billy Porter’s reimagining of The Life, The Light in the Piazza featuring Ruthie Ann Miles, and Jelly’s Last Jam.
As a designer, Ramos has created over 200 productions across theater, opera, and dance. His Broadway credits include Maybe Happy Ending, Eureka Day, Here Lies Love, KPOP, Slave Play, The Rose Tattoo, Eclipsed, Once On This Island, Sunday in the Park with George, and Torch Song. His film work includes production design for Isabel Sandoval’s Lingua Franca (Netflix) and costume design for RESPECT, the Aretha Franklin biopic starring Jennifer Hudson (MGM).
Ramos made history by becoming the first person of color to win the TONY® Award for Best Costume Design of a Play, for Eclipsed. He has received additional TONY® nominations—six for costume design (Maybe Happy Ending, The Rose Tattoo, Once On This Island, Torch Song, KPOP) and one for scenic design (Slave Play).
His numerous honors include two OBIE Awards (including one for Sustained Excellence in Design), three Lucille Lortel Awards, a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, two American Theatre Wing Henry Hewes Design Awards, the TDF Irene Sharaff Young Master Award, the Helen Hayes Award, the Craig Noel Award, and two Ani ng Dangal Presidential Medals for Dramatic Arts from the President of the Philippines.
Ramos is a member of the Advisory Board of the American Theatre Wing and co-founder of Design Action and Springboard to Design, initiatives focused on equity, inclusion and education. A passionate advocate, his life's work centers on creating equitable opportunities in theater and film for People of Color and immigrants.
Born and raised in Cebu, Philippines, Clint now resides in New York City with his husband and daughter.
ABOUT DAVID ZINN
Recent work on Broadway includes scenery for: The Last 5 Years, Stereophonic, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, The Notebook, Kimberly Akimbo, Funny Girl and The Humans; scenery and costumes for Boys in the Band, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Fun Home, and costume design for Enemy of the People and A Doll’s House Part 2. Off-Broadway: Playwright’s Horizons, The Shed, Roundabout, MTC, NYTW, Lincoln Center Theater, 2nd Stage, and The Public. Also: A.C.T., A.R.T, Berkeley Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, and Steppenwolf. In London, he recently opened Here We Are at the National (set and costume design) and Stereophonic at the Duke of York’s. In Europe, he’s designed sets and costumes for the Berlin Staatsoper and at Theater Basel.
He has received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Circle, Hewes and Obie Awards for his work.