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Since 1992, PAVE Global has supported students and educators by strengthening the connection between design education and the professional industry.

Next Step by PAVE is PAVE Global’s professional development series designed to help students and emerging professionals navigate early career decisions within the design industry. The program focuses on career exploration, professional skill-building, and industry readiness, addressing the gap between academic training and real-world career pathways.

Next Step by PAVE offers structured programming across key focus areas, including career navigation, essential professional skills, portfolio and interview preparation, and broader conversations around culture, identity, sustainability, and impact. Sessions are designed to provide clarity around roles across design firms, vendor and manufacturer partners, construction teams, and client-side organizations, while highlighting transferable skills and long-term career growth.

Content is informed by working professionals across the design ecosystem and emphasizes practical insight, honest perspective, and real-world expectations. Whether participants are exploring career options, preparing to enter the workforce, or refining their professional direction, Next Step by PAVE is built to support informed, confident decision-making.

This page serves as the central hub for Next Step by PAVE, including registration for upcoming programs and an archive of past sessions as the series evolves.

For topic suggestions or participation opportunities, please contact info@paveglobal.org

Featured Session

Designing Your Career: Navigating Opportunities Across the Industry

Industry professionals discuss career paths across the design ecosystem, including roles within design firms, vendor partners, manufacturers, and client-side organizations.

Designing Your Career: Navigating Opportunities Across the Industry

Upcoming Sessions

The Art of the Elevator Pitch
The Art of the Elevator Pitch
Apr 23, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Interactive Webinar
Practice your elevator pitch, get feedback, and build confidence in how you introduce yourself.

Video Archive

Designing Your Career: Navigating Opportunities Across the Industry

Explore past conversations with professionals across retail design, architecture, visual merchandising, and experiential design.

Supporting the Next Generation of Designers
PAVE Global supports students pursuing careers in design by connecting education with industry through real people, real experiences, and real opportunity. From scholarships and competitions to recognition programs and professional development, our work helps students build confidence, gain exposure, and take meaningful steps toward professional practice.
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