Human Centered Design Sprint

8-week course for Philadelphia high schoolers to learn how to design apps

Student mentor firsthand

Human Centered Design Sprint

Students will learn and practice key design skills that are also applicable to other types of design. This program is a great fit for any student who enjoys tech, design, and mobile apps.

In this project-based course, students will identify a problem to be solved and then design a human-centered technology solution (app or otherwise) that will help solve the issue.

Curriculum Collaborator

Dave Royer

Skills & Topics

User testing, mobile app development, storyboarding, design-thinking principals, Figma, Canva

Careers highlighted

UX Designer, UI Designer

Student fit

This program is a great fit for any student who enjoys tech, design, and mobile apps.

Mentor fit

This program is a great fit for any professional who has experience in: UX Design, Mobile App or Web Design.

Past Internship sites

RightOn Education

Questions?

Learning goals:
  • A foundational understanding of sustainable and regenerative design
  • Understand product life cycles and the concept of the Circular Economy
  • A foundational understanding of design principles (conceptualization, prototyping, testing, etc)
  • Understand major biodesign themes (biomaterials, microbiology, genetic engineering, synthetic biology)
Practical take-aways:
  • Ability to visually represent concepts (sketches, renders)
  • Ability to speak confidently about the project and biodesign themes
  • Ability to communicate within a team and within the broader context of a community
  • Finished prototype/demo for portfolio
  • Certificate of completion

Student projects

FirstHand Sprints are collaborations between industry mentors and FirstHand.

Each curriculum is co-designed and co-delivered by the mentors and the FirstHand team to reflect the skills and topics of the emerging industry while centering the needs of Philadelphia students. Sprints range from 16-36 hours of instruction time, occurring outside of regular school hours.

how to participate:
  • Students are selected through an application process
  • Open to all Philadelphia high school students
Why you should participate:
  • Sprints are FREE and participating students will earn a stipend!
  • Sprints offer an opportunity for high school students to connect with credentials and internships.

Interested in being a FirstHand Mentor?

Inspire the next generation of STEM professionals by serving as a mentor to our FirstHand students. Our mentors are scientists, designers, entrepreneurs, and engineers, but we welcome mentors with all types of backgrounds and skill sets.

Find out how
Firsthand instructor helping students