Program Description

Prague Design Studio

This is a five and a half week intensive program that will focus on collaborative problem solving and design thinking. Students will be divided into groups and asked to identify a specific situation dealing with the human condition. This might include a design exploration with Adidas drawing inspiration from the students' travel in Europe or designing for refugee situations, diminished capacity, medical, or even disaster relief. It is important that students find an area of interest within these complex and multidimensional problems to single out a particular focus with which they truly empathize. Students will study the area and using design thinking, conceptualize, theorize, and then propose solutions and systems for solving or improving the situation. This might be a product, event, environment, or process, or combination thereof. The past two summers this project was done in conjunction with Doctors Without Borders. A second individual project wil also be done, dealing with design history and influence utilizing Prague's rich canvas of buildings and objects. Utilizing 3D print technology will be part of this exploration. Students will also travel to areas in Czechia including Cesky Krumlov, Brno, and Mikulov. Each of these towns offers unique opportunities.  Cesky Krumlov is one of the best examples of a baroque castle in Europe and boasts a unique medieval experience for the students. Brno boasts the Tugendhat Villa, Mies Van Der Rohe architectural masterpiece. And Mikulov hosts the Czech design festival each May that the students will attend.

Program dates: May 22 to June 30, 2022.

Pre-Program Meetings: At least two pre-program meetings; dates and times TBD.

See "Academics" tab for course information and prerequisites.

Banner photo: Charles River, Prague (photo credit: Michael Rall).

Photo: Daniel Pirsc Ceramic Studio in Mikulov (photo credit: Michael Rall).