Real-World Engagement Galvanizing the Next Generation of Innovators

On September 1, 2022, Stanford’s long-standing Product Design (undergraduate) and Design Impact (graduate) degree programs moved under the purview of the d.school as interdisciplinary programs. Coupled with our world-class professional programs and elective course offerings, we’re building a design program for the future with an interdisciplinary education that’s never existed before. 

This comprehensive new Stanford Design Program gives us more ways to build sustainable, impactful relationships with companies interested in or already participating in the global design movement. Membership in our Affiliates Program enables organizations to connect with a worldwide community of innovators from industry and academia, and offers engagement with Silicon Valley’s unique ways of working. A variety of gatherings create opportunities to learn, network and exchange ideas, and your membership connects you with one of the world’s most highly‐regarded design schools. Several options offer a range of possibilities:

Membership Benefits

By supporting design education, each year our Affiliates receive:

• Special invitation to d.school events: Our affiliate members and their guests enjoy d.school executive-led hosting and engagement with d.school and Stanford community events throughout the academic year. These include our flagship course Design for Extreme Affordability’s student project exposition, the David H. Liu Memorial Lecture Series in Design, our Launchpad Demo Day, the Master’s in Design students’ capstone presentations, our lunch-and-learn series Minds & Meals, and other unique gatherings.

• Engagement with Stanford Design students: Within their capacity, Affiliates become immersive participants in an interdisciplinary exchange with students learning and operating at dynamic levels in their fields of study. Host a visit to your business, serve as a juror at a course presentation, share internships and job opportunities directly with our design graduate students and undergraduate majors, and more. Our focus is student learning, and Affiliates are encouraged to share in our community of practice.

• Participation in our learning agenda: Come to the d.school and join us in our studio experiences, which delve into topics important to our students. These extracurricular events are designed to help relay information, insights, and opportunities from the past, present and future of design work to current Stanford Design Program students through a one-night spark of dialogue and small-group interactions. Let’s design and learn together.

• Recognition for support of learning: Our Affiliates are thanked on our global website, at executive education forums, and in our annual yearbook. Current affiliate members include GS Group, SAP and Walmart – thank you for your support!

Membership Fee

The membership term is September 1 through August 31 (matching Stanford’s academic year). The one-year membership fee is $200,000 and is paid in advance. Companies may join at any time; the fee is not prorated.

Stanford Guidelines

Stanford’s Research Policy Handbook can be found here.

Participation

For administrative information, to get involved, and to be informed about upcoming events, please contact Adjunct Professor Justin Ferrell.