Join the 2026 d.school Book Club: Creative Essentials.
A full year of creative growth, inspiration, and connection with the d.school community.
We’re thrilled to introduce the Book Club: Creative Essentials. This new year-long experience is inspired by d.school Founder David Kelley’s Creative Essentials, personal and professional principles that build one’s capacity for creativity.
Each month, we’ll dive into one Creative Essential with a special guest speaker, exploring the practices and perspectives that help us design, imagine, and create with purpose. These live, one-hour online conversations are designed to help you learn from the experience of our speakers, apply a different Creative Essential each month with engaging mindsets and activities, and connect with other creatives all year long.
Whether you’re reigniting your creative practice or simply looking for a regular spark of inspiration, this is your chance to grow within a vibrant, supportive community of makers, thinkers, and doers.
Join us for a year of creativity, collaboration, and possibility.
How do I join?
Sign up for our virtual monthly gatherings* $179
*You will be prompted to create an account with CardinalPay.
d.school programs are stronger because we encourage participation from a range of people from a broad variety of backgrounds and perspectives.
If you need financial support to participate in this program, please contact dpro@dschool.stanford.edu. Please tell us why this workshop is important to you and why you are applying for aid with the subject line: [short workshop name] Financial Support. Our team will review requests based on availability and contact you with more details.
Featured Creative Essentials:
Build the stage for others
Be curious—stay curious
A bias towards action
Build confidence in your creativity
Embrace the messiness of ambiguity
See what you can get away with
Everything with intention
Master something (doesn’t matter what)
Enjoy every sandwich
...and more
Who are the speakers?
Andrew Evans, Founder, The Magic Patio
bryant terry, Editor-in-Chief, 4 Color Books
Carissa Potter Carlson, Founder, People I’ve Loved
David Kelley, Founder, IDEO and the d.school
Emily Pilloton-Lam, Founder and Executive Director, Girls Garage
Kareem Collie, Design Director and Manager for NASA JPL’s DesignLab
Kelli Anderson, Designer
Sophia Latessa, Design Engineer
Tom Kelley, Partner, IDEO
Victor Saad, Founder, Experience Institute
… and more to be announced!
Which speaker will be featured in which month?
Our schedule, along with recommended books for some months, will be released soon. We’ll start the year off with:
- Jan: David Kelley, Founder, IDEO and the d.school
- Feb: bryant terry, Editor-in-Chief, 4 Color Books
- Mar: Emily Pilloton-Lam, Founder and Executive Director, Girls Garage
Will each talk be based on a book?
Each talk will be based on a Creative Essential. Every talk with a recommended, paired book for that month will reference that book. We think you'll truly enjoy every recommended book, and getting the books will allow you to go deeper with the talks and content. If you're not able to read the books each month, you'll still be able to follow along and enjoy the talks!
When do the monthly online sessions take place?
We will meet on the second Tuesday of each month, from 10-11am Pacific time. Check out this site to find out what time that is where you live. The exact dates are:
- January 13
- February 10
- March 10
- April 14
- May 12
- June 9
- July 14
- August 11
- September 8
- October 13
- November 10
- December 8
I’m not sure I can make all the monthly gatherings. Will they be recorded?
Yes, we will share the recording within a few days after each gathering.
What are the books, and how do I buy them?
These books will be referenced during the talks:
- Alphabet in Motion by Kelli Anderson
- Black Food by bryant terry
- Creative Confidence by David and Tom Kelley
- Girls Garage by Emily Pilloton-Lam
- It's OK to Feel Things Deeply by Carissa Potter
- Make Possibilities Happen by Grace Hawthorne
- The Black Experience in Design by Kareem Collie
- The Shapeless Shape by Victor Saad
If you want to purchase the set or individual titles, check out the book club collection from our collaborators at Shop at MATTER.
Can I buy the monthly gatherings only (without the books)?
Yes, though we recommend getting the books for an even better experience. Buy access to the monthly gatherings here. You will first be prompted to create a CardinalPay account.
Can I purchase this as a gift?
Absolutely, and what a thoughtful gift it is :) If you want to keep it a surprise, we recommend using your own email address when signing up. Once you share the gift with them, let us know their name and email by writing to bookclub@dschool.stanford.edu. We will update the contact info so that they will receive all the book club messages and reminders.
Do you offer refunds on monthly gatherings?
We are not able to offer refunds. But we are confident you will find value and inspiration in the books and gatherings!
Who can I contact with other questions or ideas?
Please drop us a line at bookclub@dschool.stanford.edu.
