Stanford Design Formation

Design Formation began as a scribble on a notecard — an experiment to help students navigate life after college with more agency, community, and purpose. Over the years, it grew into a wildly popular course and eventually became a core class in the Stanford d.school’s DESIGN major, guiding every junior through values exploration, storytelling, and real-world career experiences. Co-created with a team of soulful educators, including Bill Burnett, David Kelley, Kelly Schmutte, Dustin Liu, Emily Callaghan, Danielle Katz, and supported by a global network of mentors, it’s one of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the chance to start and lead.