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Course Description

Summary

This two-part (fall and spring) course is conceived and structured as a small start-up. Modeled after the Bennington Plan, which is inherently entrepreneurial, Future Studio engages business as a creative space that marries collaborative inquiry-based idea development, technology and new business models to generate constructive social purpose. The course will progress over the year from idea development to prototype to market and financial analysis to business planning to potential public launch. The studio values creativity, technological innovation, place-centered economies, worker-centered ownership, environmental sustainability, social justice and financial viability. During the fall term we critically investigate ideas engaged with the Internet of Things wireless communication and sensors embedded in the world around us, generating unprecedented amounts of data. We will employ future scenario research and analysis to help guide our work. The goal is to collaboratively develop and create a new venture that has the potential to move beyond the academic structure and be launched as a viable business into the world. You do not need to be an artist, computer programmer or technologist to meaningfully participate in this course. Students who are interested in rethinking what it means to be in business today, possess an interest in the technological promise of the near future and have skills and knowledge from any of the following discipline areas are especially encouraged to participate: Digital Arts, Computing, Psychology, Design, Architecture, Mathematics, Physics, Environment or Anthropology. This course may include opportunities for FWT 2015. Students in this course will be assessed only on a pass/fail basis.