The Institute of Design (ID) conducted its fall 2024 immersion program, employing futuring tools to explore potential outcomes for Chicago. The week-long program is designed for ID M.D.M. students, providing an experiential learning environment outside the traditional classroom.
For the second consecutive year, students from Politecnico di Milano joined their ID counterparts in Chicago. The event began with a social gathering at Guild Row workspace, featuring Caleb Gardner, founding partner of 18 Coffees and digital strategy leader for President Barack Obama's political advocacy group.
Gardner discussed his work before students embarked on site visits, starting with Gensler architecture firm. They also engaged with City of Chicago officials and visited the Chicago History Museum. Additionally, they heard from representatives of the People’s Action Institute, a community organizing group rooted in Chicago since the 1960s.
Highlighting international commerce's role in the city, students toured Ferrero Group's new downtown offices that house an innovation center and R&D lab. Jessica Meharry, ID Visiting Assistant Professor who organized the immersion, remarked on the willingness of local experts to engage with students: “Even students living in Chicago got to see Chicago in a different way.”
Following site visits, workshops focused on futures concepts allowed students to envision civic possibilities for issues like mobility and healthcare over two decades. Meharry emphasized collaboration as crucial: "Our two institutions—which are quite similar...teach some things differently."
PoliMi student Ashok Chakravarthy Koruprolu valued the hands-on experience: “This unique program combined hands-on workshops with insightful discussions...”
ID student Shreya Mathur noted how it sparked dialogue around design’s potential impact on civic challenges: “I’m excited to keep exploring how we can contribute to shaping better futures.”
Regina Ellis found personal growth through participation: “The experience also opened me to new kinds of design and industries...”
Students utilized futuring tools such as Futures Wheels and Three Horizons during immersion activities. These exercises led them to create narratives illustrating future scenarios from human-centered perspectives.
Meharry commented on these narrative outcomes: “In the end they all created narratives...”
Next spring will offer ID students a chance to visit Milan alongside their PoliMi peers met during this year's program.