The iDesign program provides a venue to do inspired, international, integrative community design working with partners in economically disadvantaged locations around the world. Over the course of the ISD and idesign programs, more than 200 students in many disciplines have created sustainable solutions to difficult challenges. More than 50% of its participants are women. The program engages students with rural communities in Panama, whereas the ISD initiated and constructed projects in Bolivia and the Dominican Republic.
Goals
- Provide a meaningful learning experience that combines sustainable community-based design principles with field engineering needs analysis, measurements, and community-inspired conceptual design in a partnering community site, capped with a full-scale design analysis back on campus and communication to partners
- Consider community needs and indigenous design wisdom, technical feasibility, economic viability, desirability, health and safety, societal impact, application of appropriate technology, constructability, sustainability, safety, reliability, aesthetics, ethics, and environmental resources. Also reflect upon your cultural biases, adaptability, creativity.
Students
Open to seniors from all majors