CURRICULUM

Your big idea

Instructors: Martin Kace and Bob McKinnon

Twelve 3 hour classes

This class will educate students on how to conceive and execute projects for social change with a focus on developing projects that are not client-based. Emphasis will be on projects that are rooted in the community and that directly impact peoples lives. At the end of the session each student will have a fully developed project concept.

In this class students will learn about:

  • Ideation and design strategy for social issues
  • Understanding the audience
  • Concept development
  • Design and strategy for corporate social responsibility
  • Design and strategy for non-profit and civic institutions
  • Working with and navigating NGOs and non-profits

Developing your pitch

Instructor: Chad Boettcher

Three 2 hour classes

In this class, students will learn to develop a marketing and promotional campaign to not only publicize their project, but to use marketing and promotion as a tool to build partnerships and obtain funding. At the end of the session each student will have a fully developed outline of a marketing and promotional campaign to support their personal project.

In this class students will learn about:

  • Marketing and promotion
  • Determining and measuring success

Funding your project

Instructor: Andréa Pellegrino

Four 2 hour classes

How does a designer go about funding non-client-based solutions? This class will empower a designer to implement and execute their own work with a sense of entrepreneurial spirit. The class will provide an overview of various funding models for supporting self-initiated social change work that provide them with a source of income to execute this type of work.

In this class students will learn about:

  • Funding models; corporate sponsorship, grants, partnerships
  • Identifying and forming collaborative relationships
  • How to get ideas in front of appropriate funding sources
  • Writing a business/funding plan

Team project

Instructor: Mark Randall

Twelve 3 hour classes, Twelve 3 hour scheduled team work sessions

Each student will participate in the development and execution of a socially-minded team project which is fully implemented with tangible results. This will take the program out of the realm of theoretical thinking and extend it into the real world.

This class will give students the skill set and opportunity to implement an actual social change project, the program will instill in them the confidence, self-motivated and collaborative spirit which is needed if they are to continue this type of work on a professional level.

Teams will be composed of no more than five students giving everyone an opportunity to make significant contribution to the success of the project. Each group will identify, develop and execute a solution to a specific problem or need for a non-profit organization or underserved community.

Design NYC
The participating organizations will be pre-selected by desigNYC—and the faculty of the Impact program. desigNYC was formed in 2009 by a group of leading designers and design advocates with a mission of improving life in New York City by helping connect the nonprofit and professional design communities.

Lectures and field trips

During the course of the six week program a series of lectures featuring leaders in the areas of design and social change will be presented exclusively for students of the program. This is a rare opportunity to engage with innovators in the field in an intimate and engaging atmosphere. In addition, a number of field trips will be arranged to take students into the action to meet with a range of influential designers, business leaders and social entrepreneurs.

Program Schedule
WEEK 1

M 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30
6:00-8:00 		Big Idea
Team Project
Kick-off Event
T 9:30-12:00 Team Project
W 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30		 Big Idea
Team Project
Th 9:30-12:00 Team Project
F 9:00-2:00 Field Trip

WEEK 2

M 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30
 Big Idea
Team Project
T 9:30-12:00
6:00-8:00
 Team Project
Lecture
W 9:30-12:00
2:00-5:00		 Big Idea
Team Project
Th 9:30-12:00
2:00-3:30		 Team Project
Funding
F 9:00-2:00 Field Trip

WEEKS 3–5

M 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30
 Big Idea
Team Project
T 9:30-12:00
2:00-3:30
6:00-8:00		 Team Project
The Pitch
Lecture
W 9:30-12:00
2:00-5:00		 Big Idea
Team Project
Th 9:30-12:00
2:00-3:30		 Team Project
Funding
F 9:00-2:00 Field Trip

WEEK 6

M 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30
 Big Idea
Team Project
T 9:30-12:00
2:00-4:30
 Big Idea
Team Project
W 9:30-4:30 Team Project
Tr 9:30-4:30 Team Project
F 9:00-11:30
5:00-8:00		 Team Project
Closing Event