The Ocean County Vocational Technical School (OCVTS) is partnering with marketing agency Design 446 to launch a new initiative that brings together education, creativity and community impact.
Beginning this semester, students from the Design and Visual Communications program at the OCVTS Brick campus will collaborate with more than 20 participating non-profit organizations across Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer counties to provide creative marketing and design support.
Through this pilot program, students will gain hands-on experience in graphic design, branding, photography, videography, print collateral, and social media content creation, while helping nonprofits strengthen their visual presence and outreach efforts. The team at Design 446 will serve as professional mentors as the OCVTS instructors guide students in the development of marketing materials that support each organization’s mission.
“This partnership offers our Design and Visual Communications students an incredible opportunity to apply their skills to meaningful, real-world projects,” said Nicole Merwin, multimedia instructor at OCVTS, Brick campus. “Working alongside Design 446 and local nonprofits, our students will gain professional insight, creative confidence, and a deeper understanding of how design can positively impact the community.”
Participating nonprofits include organizations serving a broad range of community needs — from food insecurity and housing, to arts, education and youth empowerment. Each nonprofit partner will be paired with a student for the semester, culminating in a presentation of their creative work later in the school year.
This collaboration marks a significant step in connecting local business leadership with education and community service, providing students with meaningful professional experience while expanding the creative capacity of vital nonprofit organizations throughout our area.
“This initiative reflects our long-standing commitment to the community, creativity, and education,” said Ann Marie Baker, vice president at Design 446. “By mentoring these talented students, we’re not only helping them gain hands-on experience but also amplifying the vital work of organizations making a difference right here in our region.”
