A project-based course aimed at solving complex problems through design.
Are you interested in tackling complex problems through human centered design?
Design For Social Innovation (DFSI) is a semester-long course taught by Sarah Holloway (SIPA Faculty) and Adam Royalty (Founding Director Columbia Design Studio) where Columbia University students and faculty support social enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector to address complex, ambiguous global problems through human centered design. The course is open to students from Columbia’s 20 undergraduate and graduate schools via an application process.
The 3.0 credit course is a collaboration between the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
The class will take place in-person on Wednesdays from 11:00am – 12:50pm at the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio (meeting all but three Wednesdays when teams are “out of the building” interviewing, workshopping and with teaching team in office hours)
In addition to class time, there will be one mandatory Design Sprint on Friday, January 31. Please do not apply for the course unless you believe you can attend the Friday session.
The application-only course will accept a total of 30 students for the Spring 2025 term.
If selected, you will be placed on a team based on your background and interest.
Applications are now live and they will close at 11:59pm ET on Monday, November 18.