program introduction*

DISC is an immersive five-week program that explores an interdisciplinary and multi-scalar approach to planning and design of the built environment. Through seminars and lectures, studio workshop sessions, site analysis and fieldwork, students will engage in the discourse of urban innovation, and develop creative solutions to tackle the pressing challenges cities are facing today.

The program is comprised of four components. The Urban Innovation and Global Cities/Global Challenges Seminars will establish a theoretical framework for the program. The Lecture Series will expose students to the work of some of the most renowned & forward-thinking researchers and practitioners in the Bay Area and abroad. Site Analysis & Fieldwork will give students an opportunity to engage directly with the built and natural environments of the Bay Area using it as a living laboratory for study. The Studio & Digital Workshops will build core hand-on skills, empowering students to craft their own design solutions. Working individually and in teams, students will develop a project from design conception to prototyping and present the final result of their work to instructors, guest critics, and the public.

Upon completion of the DISC program, graduates will have a strong understanding of urban dynamics and a broad toolkit to tackle its urgent demands, as well as compelling artifacts for their academic portfolio. Students will gain the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and represent their design ideas, preparing themselves to become the next thought leaders and game changers in the shaping of our built environment. This summer marks the 11th year of DISC. After graduating from the program, students in the 2024 cohort will be joining a network of over 300 DISC alumni from 31 countries and 6 continents.