A: Design the Future is a two-week design thinking summer program for high school students in which they work to solve challenges faced by individuals with physical disabilities (aka Project Partners). The purpose of Design the Future is to teach young people the skills and mindsets necessary to effect positive change in their community. The program empowers students with human-centered design and product development skills while engaging them in a deeper understanding of individuals with physical disabilities.

• Help students utilize their ability and power to build something real over the course of 10 days that can help someone they know (they have what it takes to turn an idea into reality).
   
• Provide students with a skillset that will help them during this critical time in life where they’re trying to figure out who they are and what they’ll do after high school--a toolkit, known as Design Thinking, that they can use to address ANY challenges they face. Design Thinking teaches students how to correctly define a problem, and how to ideate, prototype and test solutions to develop a real solution!
  
  
• Guide students to use their skills to improve the lives of others. Program Partners (individuals with disabilities for whom the students design) will come away with a functioning, high-resolution prototype that they can continue using after the program.

• In addition to Human-Centered Design, students will be exposed to the entrepreneurial mindset. They will learn that they have what it takes to turn an idea into a tangible, impactful product over the course of just 2 weeks.
  
  
• They will learn UX/UI design principles and how to develop a functioning app using design tools such as FigJam and Adalo.
  
  
• Students will also learn to work on a team with people who are vastly different from themselves. From their project partners to the university-level design coaches, to the other students, they are learning to work with people who have different perspectives and experiences.

• 40+ hours of guidance and mentorship by professionals: Designers, university design students, and professors as well as experts in engineering, assistive technology, UX/UI, autonomous living and more.
  
  
• Fantastic speakers in the areas of health, mobility, design, engineering, and entrepreneurship.
  
  
• Experience designing and building a functional app, while also learning the skills needed to do it time and time again.
  
  
• Real-world Design Thinking knowledge as used and taught by DC Design and the Stanford University d.school.
  
  
• The chance to solve a real problem that negatively impacts your project partner’s life.
  
  
• An understanding of UX & UI Design methods like persona creation, storyboarding, Wireframing, app layout, app design, and more!
  
  
• Life-changing insights from Project Partners about living with a disability and importance of designing human-centered products.
  
  
• Lasting friendships and membership in a select community of like minded peers, all striving to make the world better.
   
• Possibly, the best experience of your life!

A: Any student who is at the beginning of the 2022 school year in middle school or high school between the ages of 13 and 19 can participate in Design the Future: Digital this summer.

A: Nope! Our program is designed for students of all technical and design skill levels - even those with none. “No-code” app development is an up-and-coming movement in the web/app design field. We will be utilizing no-code app development software so that all students can participate no matter their coding experience.

A: Design the Future: Digital is fully remote. The program is facilitated online via collaborative learning systems such as Kajabi, Figma and Remo.

A: Due to COVID restrictions, the program is solely online for summer 2022. We are hoping to provide in-person options again in 2023

• DC Design has been a remote company since it was founded in 2014. We are experts at online facilitation and large-group engagement. In addition to engaging curriculum and hands-on learning, our Design the Future schedule is infused with short and long breaks as well as energizing activities we call “stokes.” Students will also be given opportunities and encouraged to build connections and engage with each other in interest areas and activities outside of the program as well.
  
  
• The program is facilitated online via collaborative learning and design tools such as Kajabi, Figma and Zoom. During each class, students will learn key aspects of the Design Thinking process from our expert instructors, meet with their teammates to work on their design, and gain expert guidance from their design coach. They’ll also have regular contact with their Project Partner, an individual with a disability who serves as a design client and disability mentor who will help mentor students and guide their product development.
  

• Design classes: Monday - Friday, June 13-24 from 9 AM - 2:00 PM PST (with a 30 minute break from 11AM - 11:30AM).
  
  
• Final Ceremony and Design Expo: Saturday, June 25, 9am-Noon PST

A: The majority of the program will be synchronous, approximately 95-98% of it. However, there may be some asynchronous pre-course materials (readings, videos) or design tool orientation/practice prior to starting the program. Additionally, there are typically a couple instances of "homework" where students may need to do research or complete an activity on their own time.

• Design the Future is rooted in collaboration and immersive, experiential learning. Due to the collaborative, team-based format, and the intensity of the program, we know that students have the best experience when they and their teammates are able to participate in all program sessions and activities.
  
  
• Additionally, we want to be good stewards of the scholarship funds we receive, and ask that any student receiving scholarship funds be able to fully participate in the complete program.
  
  
•  If you anticipate any conflicts with the course schedule, please let us know as soon as possible.

• On the final day of the program, family, friends, and the wider community are invited to the Design the Future Expo, a virtual showcase of all student projects from the year. See and interact with their final products, learn about their stories, and see the journey our students, Project Partners, and Design Coaches took as they came together to create a new product to benefit the world.
  
  
• The Design Expo and final ceremony will be Saturday, June 25 at 9am PST

• A computer or laptop
• High speed internet access
• Webcam
• Headphones and Mic
• A positive attitude 

A: Each Design the Future program is staffed by the following team members:

• 2 Design Lead Facilitators: Education and Human-centered Design professionals who guide the students through the Design Thinking process.
  
  
• 2 Technical Lead Facilitators: Education and Computer Science, app design or UX/UI professionals who guide the students through the technical and design concepts.
  
  
• Design Coaches: Upper level university students and industry professionals who are passionate about human centered design, engineering, computer science, youth mentorship, disability awareness and social impact). 1 Coach for every team of 4-5 students.
  
  
• Project Partners:  Individuals with physical disabilities who are passionate about disability awareness, youth mentorship and design. 1 Project Partner for every team of 4-5 students. Project Partners come in and out for interviews, brainstorming, and product testing, and spend about 15 hours with students over the course of the 2 weeks.

A: In talking with our Project Partners about the digital program, we've received a lot of feedback about the challenges individuals with disabilities experience with current apps on the market, or challenges they have that an app could help with but which doesn't exist yet. There are two general routes a student's team may go with their project (depending on the challenges presented by their Project Partner):

• They design a modified/improved version of an existing app that relieves the particular challenges an individual with a disability experiences with the app e.g. A glucose-monitoring app that is better designed for individuals with low vision.
  
  
• They design an app that allows for unique functionality for a specific use case e.g. An app with a timer and audio communication that syncs the phones of an overnight caretaker and the client. Both phones would run a timer that goes off whenever it's time for the caretaker to check on the client. The client can also call or signal the caretaker hands-free if the caretaker is needed prior to the regular check time. The timer would reset for each person after every caretaker-client contact.

These are just a couple examples of the types of needs the students would be designing app-based solutions for in the digital program. One thing that's cool about the program is that we don't pre-select the teams' challenges or pre-define their solution -- each team selects their own unique challenge to address (out of 3 options presented by their Project Partner) and has control over their own solution, so every team's challenge and final product is different.

We also work with our Project Partners to ensure the challenges that students address are accessible for students to produce meaningful solutions within the program timeframe.

• The program costs $1350. Discounts and financial need scholarships are available.
  
  
• We currently have a $50 discount for attending our informational webinar. Sign up at: youdesignthefuture.com
  
  
• Scholarships are also available for students who have experienced financial hardship and those who are historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

• It's important that we have a range of students from diverse backgrounds at Design the Future. The scholarship application is baked right into the program application, so students won't have to fill out anything separate. If they fill out this section, it will ask questions about financial hardship, household income, number of dependents in the household, and how much they think they can pay. Scholarship amounts vary, and we generally have students pay at least $100, so that they are committed and invested in attending. It's especially important to us to include students from underrepresented populations or from low-income backgrounds. We have also had families do payment plans in the past, where they paid in installments.
  
  
• If you have any questions about scholarships, payment plans, cost or anything else, please email us at [email protected]

A: We are happy to work with you to make an arrangement that will fit your financial situation. We have had families pay in installments in the past.  If this is a concern of yours, please just email us at [email protected] and ask about making arrangements.

A: The checkout page is secure and the payment is processed via Stripe. Additionally, the payment form does not retain any payment information.

A: The refund policy is based on withdrawal date.

• Withdrawal by February 1st: 75% of tuition returned
• Withdrawal by March 1st: 50% of tuition returned
• Withdrawal by April 1st: 25% of tuition returned
• Withdrawal by May 1st: 10% of tuition returned

A: Any student who at the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year was in middle school or high school between the ages of 13 and 19, can participate in Design the Future: Digital this summer.

A: The application deadline is May 29th, however, we review applications on a weekly basis in the order in which they are received so it’s best to apply as soon as possible!

• It’s a written application, which you can find at youdesignthefuture.com, and it will ask you just a few short answer questions like: What are your activities? What are you passionate about? What keeps you up at night? What is something you have built or want to build?
  
  
• The application questions are meant as an opportunity for us to learn more about you. Be honest and thorough, but don’t overthink it!

A: No, that’s not necessary. Students are evaluated based on their application essay answers. If we require any additional information to make an acceptance decision, we will reach out to you.

A: If you have STEM/technical skills, definitely note that in your application, but that’s not necessary for you to get into Design the Future! The common denominator among successful students is that they show that they care about others, that they are thinking about someone outside of themselves. It’s also good to show that you are passionate about something.

A: Visit us at youdesignthefuture.com

A: We ask that students enroll within 10 days of their acceptance. Please let me know if you have concerns about your enrollment deadline. 

A: The health-related questions on the enrollment form are for any students who have health conditions that could occur while on camera (e.g. seizures, low blood sugar, etc.). It's unlikely that we would need that info, except in a case where a student does have a specific health condition and parents provide an action plan in case of an on-camera emergency. 

A: Yes, we will provide a certificate at the completion of the program.

A: Just contact us at [email protected] -- we’re happy to answer any questions you have. Also, don’t forget to check out additional information and student testimonials at www.youdesignthefuture.com!