Overview

“Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” - Paul Brandt

Designers are like astronauts, and astronauts aren’t made in a day. Teaching, learning and doing good design work takes time.

This course is an introductory learning experience for people ready to reach beyond their limits. Inspired by the rigorous training astronauts experience on land, at sea and in the air before applying their skills on mission in space—this course is project-based, purpose-driven and requires a two-quarter commitment.

Basic Training

Winter quarter will push you outside of your comfort zone to discover who you are and how you do design work by guiding you through exercises to activate and develop specific design abilities.

Advanced Training

Spring quarter will push you outside of your comfort zone—and the classroom—to discover how design works in real-world contexts. You will be tasked with forming your own team to launch a purpose-driven design challenge.

* Note: We scheduled the winter quarter class time to allow all group work to happen during studio hours (although it may often take you outside the classroom!). Homework outside of class will be minimal, and will only require individual work. This means that being available for all class time is absolutely mandatory.

Please note that this class sequence requires a 2-quarter commitment.