Context Awareness
Searching for precedents, observing and understanding people for whom you are designing; understanding the impact of historic design and cultural changes; assessing how social dynamics and power structures influence the meaning and effects of designs; evaluating potential consequences of design outputs.
Hands-On Learning
Applying the design process including observation and experimentation in the field; framing and reframing the challenge; making, tinkering and prototyping; teaming throughout the design cycle.
Project-Based Learning
Applying the design process to “wicked problems” that cause you to actively acquire the skills necessary to lead and succeed as team members and leaders of design and innovation activities.
Interdisciplinary Team Work
Actively learning the “languages” of disciplines other than your own, and integrating the perspectives and heuristics of those disciplines into joint design and innovation work.
Critical Evaluation as Feedback and Reflection
Learning the tools and techniques for giving and receiving critical feedback that allows for peer-led learning.
Technical Depth
Connecting design skills and theory with deep technical and disciplinary expertise by having those skills, perspectives, heuristics and values represented within and across your team.