The Applied Design Methods for Community Wellbeing at Georgia Institute of Technology explores user-centred design methods to produce work that considers physical, social and emotional aspects of wellbeing.

Applied Design Methods for Community Wellbeing is an undergraduate course that engages students in real-world design research and practice focused on improving subjective wellbeing.

The course engages students to apply user-centred design methods, including interviews, observation, and co-design, while emphasising ethical engagement. Working in partnership with local organisations, students investigate complex social challenges related to health and wellbeing.

A central component of the course is a community-based project in which students conduct fieldwork with stakeholders, such as residents and staff in care environments.

They develop a nuanced understanding of lived experiences and identify opportunities for intervention. Students translate their research into design criteria and propose evidence-based concepts that address physical, social and emotional dimensions of wellbeing.

The course emphasises reflection, collaboration and iterative development. Students are encouraged to critically examine their assumptions, engage with diverse perspectives and refine their ideas through continuous feedback from peers, instructors and community partners.

The course culminates in a final presentation that communicates both the research process and proposed solutions. By the end of the course, students leave not only with design skills, but with a deeper understanding of how design can meaningfully contribute to community wellbeing.

School: Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Design, School of Industrial Design
Course: Applied Design Methods for Community Wellbeing
Type: Undergraduate
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Course dates: January to May, offered annually
Application deadline: 15 January 2026

Find out more about the course and apply ›

What will I learn during this course?

– Human-centred design research, including interviews, contextual observationand stakeholder analysis
– Participatory and co-design methods, working directly with community members and organisational partners
– Designing for wellbeing, with a focus on social, cognitive and environmental factors that influence quality of life
– Research synthesis and insight generation, translating qualitative data into design opportunities
– Concept development and iterative design, transforming research insights into product or environmental proposals
– Interdisciplinary collaboration, working with healthcare professionals, community organisations and peers
– Ethical design practice, including responsible research with human participants and vulnerable populations
– Visual communication and storytelling, presenting research findings and design concepts through reports, posters and presentations
– Reflection and critical thinking, evaluating the social impact and ethical implications of design interventions

What are the requirements?

– Students must have completed a foundational User-Centred Design Methods course, demonstrating a working knowledge of human-centred approaches and research methods
– The course is designed for advanced undergraduate or graduate students in industrial design, who are interested in applying design methods in real-world community contexts and developing projects focused on well-being and social impact

What facilities and resources are available?

– Classes are held in the School of Industrial Design, which includes collaborative spaces equipped for co-design workshops and project development
– The SimTigrate Design Center offers additional dedicated lab spaces that support interdisciplinary collaboration and applied research activities
– The Centre for Teaching and Learning provides spaces for presentations and interdisciplinary activities
– A key component of the course takes place off campus at nonprofit organisations, such as A.G. Rhodes (nursing home)

What career prospects can I expect upon graduating?

Graduates of the course are well-positioned for careers in human-centred design, service design, healthcare innovation, social innovation and design research.

The course develops skills that are increasingly valued in professional design practice, including stakeholder engagement, participatory design, research synthesis and designing for complex social systems.

Who teaches this course?

– Leandro Miletto Tonetto, associate professor of Industrial Design at the Georgia Institute of Technology

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