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= Overview<span style="font-size: 12px;"></span> =
[[File:DesignForAmerica.png]]
= Purpose =
Design for America is an organization based on the idea that people cannot innovate without believing in themselves. This principle defines their motivation behind working on a national level to build a network of students who actively create impact at the local level through team-based projects. Design for America's goal is to create a network of students working to solve social problems and make a significant impact in their respective communities. Student teams survey their local community in order to assess its challenges and complete all the steps in the design process from ideation to viable product development. Teams of 2 to 3 students will then set out to create solutions based on the challenges identified. <span style="font-size: 12px;">Student teams are either a part of a studio or independently run by students on campuses nationwide. </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Design for America believes that every student has the ability to make an impact, and through design innovation, students can solve problems in the world around them. </span>
Co-founder Dr. Liz Gerber has researched new ways of learning about human centered design called Extracurricular Design-Based Learning. This method engages students, community members and partners to think about our biggest challenges that we face in education, health, economy and environment. The best words to summarize this organization's vision is motivation informed by belief in ability. Design for America holds the idea that we must believe in our ability to develop innovative solutions that can address the world's challenges by implementing extracurricular design-based learning.
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<span style="font-size: 12px;">Students in </span><span data-scaytid="2" data-scayt_word="DFA" style="font-size: 12px;">DFA</span><span style="font-size: 12px;">campus studios usually report that they were able to find and learn more about their passion. Furthermore, students learn important marketable skills for the work place such as: team working abilities, problem solving, creativity, and perseverance. In addition, students enjoy connecting and working with students from across their campuses and outside their majors. Many students enjoy the impact they are able to make while in college, which in many insistences turn into a career path. Below are some of the campuses involved and companies that have started through </span><span data-scaytid="3" data-scayt_word="DFA" style="font-size: 12px;">DFA</span><span style="font-size: 12px;">. </span>
<u>Colleges Involved in Design for America:</u>
Connect with Design for America through [https://www.facebook.com/designforamerica Facebook], [https://twitter.com/design4america Twitter], and/or [http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Design-America-Network-3086190/about LinkedIn].
[[Category:Resources]]
