Design for Sustainable Development

All Majors Welcome!

This course is not just about learning; it’s about doing. Here, you will not only think but also act. You will collaborate with peers across continents, from the US to Kenya, to conceptualize and create sustainable design solutions that address the pressing needs of our times: climate adaptation and peace in low-resource settings.

You will engage directly with communities, learn to listen, and develop solutions that are not only sustainable but peace-promoting. You will be part of a global classroom without walls, participating in multicultural teams through the Global Virtual Exchange (GVE) / Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) approach, enabling you to work with and learn from international peers.

Course Flyer

Download the course flyer here: Course Flyer (PDF)

What Will You Achieve?

By the end of this journey, you will:

  • Grasp sustainable development within the frame of human-centered design.
  • Apply principles of human-centered design to real-world challenges.
  • Create appropriate technology solutions with a sustainable implementation plan.
  • Evaluate the societal, environmental, and economic impacts of development programs.
Tana River Drought Recovery Project in Garissa, Kenya (2011)
Greenhouse Project, North Eastern Province Girls Secondary School, Garissa (2011)
School Feeding Program location, Wajir, North of Garissa (2011)
Garissa residents wade through a flooded road after River Tana burst its banks following days of torrential rain that is pounding the area (May 2020)
Trucking/Distribution Program, Wajir, North of Garissa (2011)
Challenges in Garissa

Your Learning Experience

Get ready for a semester packed with exploration and innovation.

  • Week 1 to 2: Dive into human-centered design and begin your COIL journey.
  • Week 3 to 7: From climate adaptation and innovation for peace and sustainable development.
  • Week 8 to 16: Innovation, business modeling, and impact analysis leading up to a class competition.

No Prerequisites, Just Passion

This elective course is open to all who are driven to make a difference—no prerequisites required. Bring your passion, your ideas, and your desire to create change.

Are You Ready to Design the Future?

Join us in this bold endeavor. Engage with the world. Innovate for peace. Adapt for climate. And build solutions that matter.

Register now and become a change-maker for a sustainable tomorrow!

Curious about how this course was developed?

Check out this article and video to learn more:

About your instructor

Meet Dr. Justin Henriques, your instructor for this class. With decades of experience working on sustainable solutions in the world’s most resource-challenged communities, he has a wealth of real-world experience to share with you in the classroom. His hands-on approach to learning empowers you to design, innovate, and create! As a project mentor, he’s here to help guide you through your collaborative and sustainable design projects.

Questions? Contact him by email at: henriqjj[at]jmu.edu

Want to learn more about his background? Check out his CV here.