Remember the last time you faced a thorny problem and wished for a fresh approach? That's where design magic happens.
Join us for a four-and-a-half day, hands-on learning adventure! You'll discover how to frame problems in surprising ways, blend analytical and creative thinking, and run quick experiments that spark real innovation.
We'll explore how design shapes learning, and you'll leave with a toolkit of design approaches you can use to (re)shape your journey at Stanford and beyond.
Audience
This class is open to incoming graduate students in any discipline* who are interested in design as a methodology for interdisciplinary collaboration. It is not a product or service design class.
*MSx Class of 2026 and first year MBA students are ineligible to participate due to mandatory program requirements.
Detailed Course Description
This 4.5-day immersive workshop will take you on an experiential exploration of how design can boost your learning superpowers.
Practicing design is a means to develop skills and mindsets that are essential in a rapidly changing world: identifying and framing wicked problems and human needs, combining analytical and creative thinking, and adopting an experimental approach to bringing ideas to life.
This course is for you if you are a graduate student of any discipline who has not previously taken a quarter-long d.school course and want to explore design as a common language for interdisciplinary collaboration. The experience will help you consider applications of design abilities to your work and domain. Also, you will leave better prepared to take advantage of other d.school courses during the year.
Overall, the experience will be a springboard to explore how creative individuals and interdisciplinary teams can foster a culture of learning and innovation in diverse contexts, both inside and outside of academia.
Workshop objectives:
- Learn design as a methodology for boosting learning abilities
- Explore dynamics involved in interdisciplinary teamwork
- Discover connections between design principles and your discipline
- Experience learning through iterative cycles of inspiration, action, and reflection
Instructors
- Leticia Britos Cavagnaro, PhD, adjunct professor in the MS Design Program and senior designer, Future Foundations of Design and Teaching & Learning Studio, d.school
- sam seidel, PhD, director of products + publications and co-director, K-12 Lab Program, d.school
- Aleta Hayes, senior lecturer and director of dance, theater, and performance studies (TAPS)
Apply by July 6 (apply by May 18 to maximize your chances to get in)