Hello!

It’s great to have you be a part of Design Abroad: India. This new three-week course is an exciting opportunity for you to travel, explore, and to co-design with a local community in rural India. You will be working with organizations to identify design projects that can help further the organization’s goals and the people they serve. Examples include working with women’s empowerment organizations, microfinance groups, an orphanage for boys, among others. Possible project opportunities include designing or re-designing products, services, or environments, developing educational materials, and creating marketing and outreach campaigns. The scope of the projects will be determined once you arrive in India and delve into co-designing with the organizations and the local community.

When you are not working on a design project, you will be immersed in the culture of India – from the food, design, art, and music you find to the traditions, natural beauty, and new friendships you discover. As a group, you represent a variety of backgrounds, skills, and interests. I am excited to see the experiences you will have and the work you will accomplish in India in May. In the meantime, I look forward to meeting with you soon.

Best,

Sarah

p.s. Here are two images: the first is of one of the guest houses where we will be staying. The second shows the kind of traditional clothing women are encouraged to wear while in India (Don’t worry we will talk more about this and how you can easily find appropriate clothing for very reasonable prices once we are in India!).