The Teamwork that Builds a Habitat for Humanity

Photos submitted by Casey Martin

Article submitted by April Seiler

NEWBERG, Ore. – For several years, the George Fox University (GFU) Art and Design program has partnered with the Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity (Habitat) to provide students with opportunities to apply their academic skills through community service. A recent marketing project completed by students helped generate $42,000 in donations.

The partnership has included semester-long design projects and annual Serve Day connections, all focused on supporting Habitat’s mission of providing affordable housing.

One primary component of the partnership has taken place through the Collaborative Design Studio course taught by Assistant Professor Marvin Eans. Students in this course have served Habitat since 2022.

Last Spring, they developed cohesive marketing campaigns designed to communicate Habitat’s mission, highlight its impact in the Newberg community and support fundraising efforts.

Students from the graphic design, illustration, photography and studio art programs collaborated throughout the semester and met regularly with Habitat leadership, combining their diverse expertises to produce impactful work. These meetings provided ongoing feedback and helped students better understand the organization’s needs.

By the end of the course, students produced branding materials, social media content and promotional designs ready to be used by Habitat. Their work had a sizable outcome, generating over $42,000 in donations to support affordable housing efforts in the Newberg area.

Eans said that the project allowed students to “engage their hands, hearts and heads in meaningful creative service.” He added that beyond design execution, students gained a stronger sense of purpose by seeing how their creative skills could be used to serve others and make a tangible difference.

In addition to the semester-long design projects, GFU art and design students have served with Habitat for Humanity annually on Serve Day for many years.

During the 2025 Serve Day, 20 interior design students participated in two different hands-on service opportunities coordinated by Assistant Professor of Interior Design, Casey Martin. She wanted students to gain practical experience in real-world environments.

“As designers, it’s great to do service work first hand for things we might actually specialize in in the future,” Martin said.

At the Habitat office, students completed several design-focused updates, including a wall makeover and the addition of some decorative pieces they found at Habitat’s ReStore, a non-profit store run by Habitat which sells a variety of homegoods. 

Michaela Vega, an interior design student, especially enjoyed the service experience. “This year's Serve Day felt more personal than any others,” said Vega. “Using my skill with design and bettering a space for someone that works for such an amazing organization felt awesome.”

Other students worked at the build site, helping construct a French drain system by filling a trench with gravel and river rock. The previous system had been leaking onto both the Habitat and neighboring lots and the new drain provided a permanent fix that saved regular build-site volunteers significant time and labor.

Jayden Goodding, an interior design student, said she “was honored to have been a part of a larger project to help the Newberg community,” noting that in a build completed entirely by volunteers, every effort counts.

These Serve Day activities gave interior design students the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world settings while directly supporting Habitat for Humanity’s ongoing work. 

“The students were there to really work,” said Newberg Habitat’s Executive Director, Shannon Selah. “Everyone jumped in without missing a beat; they got everything done and did good-quality work. We would love to have them come out to volunteer more!”

She added that the partnership is reciprocal, as students help Habitat finish work while gaining valuable experience in the process.

Together, the semester-long design projects and annual Serve Day efforts highlight the strength of the ongoing partnership between GFU’s Art and Design program and Habitat for Humanity.

Integrating creative coursework with community engagement creates a service-driven education that allows students to apply their skills in ways that make lasting impacts on the Newberg community.

If you’re inspired by the impact students have made through this partnership, there are ways you can get involved too. Newberg Area Habitat for Humanity offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals looking to support affordable housing in the community. Visit Habitat's Website to learn more and find a way to put your time and talents to work for a meaningful cause.