Design Survivor
Harvard, 2013–2021 · Dartmouth, 2026+
Design Survivor: Product & Experience Design for Desirability. A multi-disciplinary Harvard class for students interested in designing products and services described as “simple, irresistible, delightful, cool, covetable, viral, and…much more likely to be successful.”
Students examined real-world organizational cases (Apple, Gucci, Swarovski) applying strategic desirability design. Weekly challenges used analogical transfer across industries and markets including health literacy campaigns, emerging technologies, and luxury goods. Expert critique panels enabled portfolio development.
Why take ES22? Learn from successful cross-industry desirability cases. Develop a practical design portfolio. Build rapid creative problem-solving skills. Master human desirability as a founding principle. Apply analogical transfer strategies. Practice diverse prototyping methods. Present ideas competitively.
Why NOT take ES22? Not suitable for students uncomfortable with highly participatory environments (non-lecture format), syllabus schedule changes, or a fun, experimental atmosphere vs. traditional engineering coursework.
Course founder, professor. Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences + Harvard Graduate School of Design. Press: “Harvard Class Teaches the Design of Desirability” (Boston Magazine).