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URBAN SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STUDIO
June 17 to August 13, 2008

Design and Sustainable Innovation
A unique experiential learning program providing participants with intensive, hands-on, projects; professional networking opportunities; career advice and direction; and broad foundational knowledge via readings, field trips and guest speakers.

Timeline
FAQs Past Projects Previous Participant Comments

PROGRAM INTRODUCTION:

LEARNING SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

What is required to foster a shift toward greater environmental, social and economic sustainability? In what direction should we evolve and how? What barriers to change exist and how can they be overcome?

Developed over the past six years, Foresight’s Urban Sustainable Design Studio (USDS) empowers participants to become better sustainable innovators through a unique, experiential learning program. Through an intensive mix of weekly readings, field trips, guest speakers and hands-on project work, attendees learn about the sector and delve into the innovation process. Graduates of the program leave with a deeper understanding of Sustainability, the potential of Design to analyze and address systemic issues, and the many opportunities for, and barriers to, influencing change.

More than creating environmentally superior products or buildings (i.e. Green Design), Sustainable Design seeks more systemic solutions. Sometimes called transformative or holistic design, this approach employs systems-based thinking and an intensively interdisciplinary process to develop innovation and effect change. Its methodology can be applied to a broad spectrum of social, environmental and economic issues, taking into consideration the often-complex web of cultural, political, economic, historical and psychological factors, among others.

Successful past participants have come from a range of backgrounds, including humanities, natural and social sciences, and a variety of design disciplines. They have been united with their colleagues by their passion for understanding and pursuing sustainability, interest in realizing the potential of “good design,” desire to work across disciplines, and enthusiasm for working with like-minded others in a highly collaborative and exploratory studio environment.

Examples of previous undertakings range from providing pro bono graphic design services to a local social venture enterprise to advising the City of Chicago on the creation of a comprehensive green business strategy plan. This summer’s projects, as detailed below, will be no less ambitious or diverse.

If you are seeking experience specifically in green design, be it product, interior, communication, etc., a different program will probably better suit your interests. While Sustainable Design usually involves traditional design disciplines—as well as non-design disciplines—it often aggressively reaches beyond these boundaries. If this sounds like your ideal summer, we look forward to reviewing your application.

--Peter Nicholson
USDS Program Director


TIMELINE

EARLY DECISION
Monday, March 17: Early Decision Application Deadline.

Monday March 24-28: Early Decision Applicant (Phone) Interviews

Monday, March 31: Early Application Decisions Announced

Friday, April 11: Early Admission Deposit Due  (Non-Refundable)

FINAL APPLICATION
Monday, April 14: Final Application Deadline.

Wednesday, April 16-23: Applicant (Phone) Interviews

Monday, April 29: Final Decisions Announced

Monday, May 12: Program Deposit Due (Non-Refundable)

Monday, June 2: Tuition Due

PROGRAM
Tuesday, June 17: Program Begins

Wednesday, July 4: Holiday/Free Day

Tuesday, August 12: Final Public Presentation(s) at Chicago Green Drinks

Wednesday, August 13: Program Ends with Concluding Dinner

The calendar is available online as a Google calendar.

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TUITION
Eight-week Session: $2500.

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CONTACT
USDS Coordinator
Foresight Design Initiative
E: usds@foresightdesign.org
W: www.foresightstudio.org
T: (773) 271-1990

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   FORESIGHT DESIGN INITIATIVE
   (773) 271-1990 | 4518 N. Damen, Chicago, IL 60625

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