Introduction to Design
🔹 1 semester
🔹 The starting point for Academy by Design
In this course, students identify real-world challenges, develop human-centered design solutions, and present their work to a relevant audience. This course provides the foundational tools for design thinking, including empathy-driven problem-solving, ideation, prototyping, and user feedback.
Design Intensive
🔹 Prerequisite: Introduction to Design
🔹 2 semesters
This hands-on, yearlong course takes learning beyond the classroom and into the real world. Students will:
- Work directly with industry professionals
- Gain experience in data-driven decision-making and creative problem-solving
- Develop real-world design solutions for businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations
Design Capstone
🔹 2 semesters
🔹 Prerequisite: Design Intensive
The final step in the Academy by Design program, this capstone allows students to:
- Independently research, design, and execute a full-scale project
- Work with industry mentors to refine and present their solution
- Demonstrate their design thinking expertise in a culminating project
- Potentially use their work for college portfolios, internships, and professional networking