Each fall, all juniors, fourth- and fifth-year seniors, and graduate students are invited to explore the courses available (eligibility may vary by course) and sign up to participate in one of the spring offerings.
Current Studios
The Advanced Color studio will deepen students understanding of color theory and its practical applications, culminating in a hands-on project that revitalizes an existing hotel in New Mexico, enhanced by a field study to explore local design inspirations.
@ Capacity invites students to creatively explore mobile audio-centric design, focusing on sound as a key element while tackling issues like clutter and revitalizing underused spaces through innovative, collaborative projects with a field study component to New Orleans.
The Bio-Design Challenge 2025 studio will encourage students to blend creativity with sustainability, empowering them to devise innovative solutions that tackle environmental challenges through biomimicry and interdisciplinary collaboration, ultimately aiming for impactful projects that promote a healthier planet. Through this studio, one ISU student team will have the chance to compete at the 2025 Summit in New York City.
The Caribbean Solidarities course offers students a unique opportunity to engage with the cultural, social, and environmental dynamics of the Caribbean, promoting collaborative design projects that foster community resilience and celebrate local identities through hands-on learning and immersive experiences.
Learn more about the Caribbean Solidarities to Postpone the End of the World Studio
Students in the Mayors’ Workshop: Civic Hydrology course will explore the intersection of water systems and community engagement, encouraging them to design innovative solutions that address urban water challenges while promoting sustainable practices and strengthening civic awareness through collaborative, hands-on projects.
Learn more about Civic Hydrology: Flood Resilience and Public Spaces in Iowa Communities
The Hospitality course offers students an immersive experience in designing engaging spaces that enhance guest experiences, encouraging collaborative projects that focus on innovative solutions for the hospitality industry while fostering an understanding of the cultural and social aspects of service design. Fields trips include visits to Tokyo, Kyoto, and the project site in Matsue, Japan.
The Human Nature: Picturesque Landscapes course investigates the relationship between people and their natural environments, encouraging them to create visually compelling projects that celebrate the beauty of landscapes while addressing ecological and cultural narratives through thoughtful design.
Learn more about Human/Nature: Redesigning 19th-century Picturesque Landscapes
Students will explore the unique challenges of urban design in Venice, emphasizing innovative strategies that address issues like sustainability, mobility, and cultural preservation through collaborative projects that merge technology with the city’s rich historical context.
Learn more about Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective | Venice Biennale Sessions
The Made/Unmade Iowa course encourages students to explore the complexities of Iowa’s landscapes and communities, promoting hands-on design projects that explore themes of creation and deconstruction while fostering a deeper understanding of local culture and environmental sustainability.
Students will engage in meaningful design projects that bridge the gap between theory and practice, focusing on social impact and community needs while encouraging collaborative exploration of innovative solutions that foster positive change in various environments.
Learn more about One Step Closer: Exploration in Experiential Design
The Paper Palaces: Japan course offers students a unique opportunity to delve into the art of traditional Japanese design and craftsmanship, exploring the cultural significance of paper while creating innovative projects that blend heritage with contemporary practices in architecture and design.
Learn more about the Paper Palaces: The World’s Fair in Japan Studio
The Performing Body Research course compares the intersection of performance and design, encouraging students to explore the physicality of the human body in relation to space and environment through innovative projects that enhance the experience of movement and expression.
Learn more about Performing The Body: the body as practice, the body as research
Students will reimagine modern work environments, focusing on innovative design solutions that enhance productivity and well-being while fostering collaboration and adaptability in response to evolving workplace dynamics.
The UNESCO Preservation of Culture course engages students in exploring strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage, emphasizing collaborative design projects that address preservation challenges while fostering a deeper understanding of the significance of cultural narratives in contemporary society.