The Capstone studio represents the culmination of the skills and knowledge that students have developed over their careers in GTID. The Capstone project introduces new research methodologies, user experience tools, and writing outcomes to create a high impact Capstone project for each student’s portfolio. Students learn powerful new methods to promote their online design profile by writing a personal design philosophy and a reflective Design article for their LinkedIn profile page that establishes their professional design voice. See some here.

The semester starts with a portfolio review and written design philosophy. The portfolio review guides the selection of the optimum area for design focus for the Capstone Project. Each student identifies which design discipline they want to target their Capstone towards; UX, Product, Design Research, Graphic Design, Branding, or the startup community. 

The Capstone project is an individual, self-identified project that focuses on “big picture” design issues. The design issues are identified using literature reviews, trends analysis, and market statistics. Peer reviews, class discussions, social media surveys, and instructor feedback guide the project’s development. Capstone projects require high productivity, quick turnaround times, advanced design work that establishes a new personal best for each student. Students demonstrate how their design philosophy shaped their Capstone project outcomes.

Capstone projects are submitted to design blogs, design awards, and CreateX. See an example here.

The opportunity to choose the project, negotiate deliverables, and work individually are what make the Capstone studio unique.