For Faculty & Staff

Guest lecture(s) and/or workshop(s)

We are available to visit courses to introduce the theory and practice of design thinking through lectures and/or workshop(s). Examples of this have included; an introduction to design thinking for courses considering the built environment or experience design; a series of workshops introducing students to the power of making their ideas tangible through prototyping; a series of workshops introducing design principles and techniques for modeling, mapping, or visualizing concepts. Please complete a Google form to request this form of course support and schedule a time to meet with Emily to discuss.

Use of the classroom at DTI (Capen Annex)

Classes that integrate design or making in some way into their curriculum or could benefit from our flexible design thinking classroom (moveable and adjustable height tables, whiteboards, sticky notes, markers, and access to many lo-fi-making supplies). Please complete this Google Form and email capenannex@smith.edu to alert us of your request for the use of CA101. The room functions best at a max of 16 students but can squeeze 20 (not that comfortably). You can always check our classroom use calendar posted on our home page to check availability or search ‘The Design Thinking Initiative’ in Google calendar.  

Tools and materials check-out 

If you need supplies for simple making activities that can take place in your own classroom or to support a class project beyond use of Capen Annex please fill out this Google Form and email capenannex@smith.edu to alert us of the request. We can’t promise everything requested, but might suggest alternative supplies more readily available to us. The confirmation email will indicate where to pick your supplies up in the 'Pick-Up' bin at the entrance to Capen Annex. That same confirmation email will indicate which tools we expect to be returned to DTI by the end of the semester. If you’re not sure what supplies or materials you might need for an intended project simply schedule a meeting with Kathy or Emily to discuss.

Class tour/introduction to DTI 

An introduction to the tools and materials including laser cutters, a vinyl cutter, 3D printers, and how to use the studios safely can help students see the possibilities for making available to them at DTI. Schedule a tour of the space by filling out a Google form and emailing capenannex@smith.edu to alert us of your request.

Please visit our Studio Use & Hours page for more information on our space use policies.