Design to Smile is a student-founded design, consumer-insights, and impact initiative that creates and tests point-of-sale (POS) giving campaigns, so that generosity can become a simple choice at checkout.

We turn what we learn into repeatable toolkits so students across the country can more easily execute giving campaigns, creating compounding impact and more smiles.

Mikaela grew up in downtown Chicago and now lives in Miami. She loves design, baking, entrepreneurship, and wanted to use those skills to make giving feel easy, meaningful, and repeatable.

Her love for baking started early, helping family and friends measure, decorate, and share homemade treats. In middle school, Mikaela volunteered with Fight to Feed, a Chicago nonprofit providing food to people in need. She joined their “Bake Squad” and reached her goal of baking and donating 1,000 cookies. Along the way, she saw the magic of giving - how a small act, whether it’s a baked item or a winter coat, can benefit both the recipient and giver.

That experience also shaped her curiosity in marketing and psychology, especially how thoughtful, human prompts (like “What if you were hungry?” or “What if you were lonely?” or “What if you were cold?”) could help people imagine someone else’s situation and feel moved to help.

Now in high school and looking to make an impact in her new community and around the country, Mikaela is launching Design to Smile and the Buy One More project. She hopes to inspire others to partner, give, or run a campaign of their own.

Founder