Alumni networks are pivotal for the growth and success of graduates, providing platforms for mentorship, job opportunities, knowledge sharing, and career development. For product design graduates in Kenya, connecting with alumni networks offers the chance to stay informed about industry trends, collaborate on projects, and foster lifelong relationships with peers and professionals. 



 

    1. University of Nairobi Alumni Association

    University of Nairobi Alumni Association (UONAA) encompasses all disciplines, including industrial design graduates, providing networking opportunities, career development, and collaboration initiatives. This association includes discipline-specific chapters, so it's possible to connect with peers from the industrial design field within the university's broader alumni framework.(University of Nairobi Alumni Association)

    2. Kenyatta University Alumni Network

    Kenyatta University has a well-established alumni association, though there is no separate chapter for industrial design. The university's alumni network offers various professional development programs, and industrial design graduates can join the general alumni association to connect with fellow graduates and professionals.

    3. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Alumni Association

    JKUAT maintains an alumni association that serves all its graduates, including those from the industrial design program. Like the University of Nairobi, JKUAT's alumni association supports career networking and knowledge-sharing among its members, and industrial design graduates can leverage this platform to further their careers.

    4. The Design Society of Kenya (DSK)

    The Design Society of Kenya (DSK) is a professional organization for designers across Kenya. Industrial design graduates can benefit from DSK's events, workshops, and networking opportunities. DSK plays an essential role in advocating for the design profession in Kenya and connecting industrial designers with both local and international opportunities.(Design Society of Kenya)

    5. Nairobi Design Week Alumni Circle

    While there is no formal "alumni circle," Nairobi Design Week (NDW) is a well-known annual event that brings together designers from all disciplines, including industrial design. Participants from previous years often continue to engage with each other professionally. This informal network can be valuable for industrial design graduates looking to collaborate and showcase their work.(Nairobi Design Week)

    6. World Design Organization (WDO)

    For international networking, Kenyan industrial design graduates can join the World Design Organization (WDO), which supports global design professionals. Membership provides access to international design resources, conferences, and a worldwide network of professionals in the field.( World Design Organization) Now operating under WDO, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) was rebranded as WDO. It connects designers globally and offers a platform for industrial designers to engage with international projects, trends, and opportunities.(WDO - formerly ICSID)