Innovation Certificate Programs for Teens
Empowering teens worldwide to become creative, self-directed leaders through interactive, skill-building courses through online live classes.
What is the Innovation Certificate?
Future Forward Learning
In 2019, we began working with the Stanford Center for Assessment Learning and Equity to define what it means to be a creative, self-directed leader. After doing a deep dive in these areas, we developed a program to help students build these important skills. We began implementing this program with our students at Design Tech @ Oracle, with great success. Today, our work with Stanford serves as the foundation of our innovation program, which is now available to students anywhere in the world.
Our students report learning a host of specific skills and mindsets that are essential to their current and future success, including technical skills like design, finance, and data analysis; durable skills like creativity, empathy, and persistence; and mindsets like adaptability, flexibility, and self-awareness. Put all of these together and you have the makings of a creative, confident, self-directed leader. We know that building self-direction, creativity and leadership is not easy and actually can be pretty frustrating. But wow, when you do it, you open up limitless opportunities for yourself.
How it Works
Earning the Innovation Certificate — Students can earn the Innovation Certificate by successfully completing the Design Thinking Bootcamp course + one or more Design Studio course(s), including: Design A Business, Design For Impact, or Design Your Future.
Online Experience
All courses are offered remotely via online live sessions, with the exception of two in person summer programs. Students meet with their cohort and teacher daily or weekly depending on the format. These sessions are interactive since so the work is collaborative and a great deal of the excitement comes from making connections with like-minded students from across the globe. All our students attend sessions with their cameras on and they participate in discussions verbally and in the chat. We know teenagers are busy, so the bulk of the experience occurs during class meeting, although students occasionally have some work to complete independently.
Course Offerings
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Design Thinking Bootcamp
This intensive class consists of 4 × 3-hour sessions. This fun, fast-paced course is a “learn by doing” experience that gives students concrete actions to be more creative in solving complex problems.
Students experience using the design thinking process by working on a series of challenges that help them develop a specific mindset or strategy that is essential to the practice of design.
The Design Thinking Bootcamp is a Prerequisite that must be completed before accessing any of our other offerings since it is the cornerstone of our innovation programs.
Price: $750 Online, $1000 In Person
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Design Studio: Design For Impact
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Design Thinking Bootcamp
In this class, students practice and implement the character attributes and skill set to be an innovative and impactful contributor to their community. This class runs in a studio format where an experienced design teacher guides teams of students to complete a self-directed design thinking project addressing an important issue that students see in the world around them.
This course runs for 4 weeks, meeting 2 times per week for 2 hours. Students will finish the course by presenting their rough prototypes to a panel. For students who are interested in taking their project further, developing it into a portfolio-ready piece, they may sign up for additional 1:1 coaching sessions aimed at refining ideas and skills (at additional cost).
Price: $1000
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Design Studio: Create A Business
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Design Thinking Bootcamp
This class takes students through the process of building a business from concept to launch, using design thinking to understand their audience and develop a unique brand identity. Students will learn the fundamentals of design, branding, and business, from sketching a collection to producing media content that tells their brand’s story. The course covers everything from creating customer personas to designing marketing strategies that resonate with their target market. This course runs for about 4 weeks, meeting 2 times per week for 2 hours.
Students will also explore media production, developing campaigns that include videos, social media content, and podcasts. The course emphasizes sustainability and teaches business essentials like financial planning, market analysis, and e-commerce. By the end of the course, students will be able to present a product, media campaign, and business plan, ready to pitch to potential stakeholders or launch in the real world.
Price: $1000
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Design Studio: Design Your Future
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Design Thinking Bootcamp
This course equips students with the tools to intentionally design their futures by applying the design thinking process to career and personal life choices. Students will reflect on their passions, values, and strengths, and set actionable goals for both the short and long term. They will explore various career paths and educational opportunities, creating vision boards, future roadmaps, and prototypes of their potential futures. The course emphasizes creativity, adaptability, and strategic planning. This course runs for about 4 weeks, meeting 2 times per week for 2 hours.
Through hands-on projects like mini internships, online courses, or shadowing professionals, students will test their ideas, iterate on their plans, and gain real-world experience. By the end of the course, they will have built a “Future Design Portfolio” showcasing their goals, prototypes, and next steps. The course also includes insights from guest speakers and an exploration of future trends and technologies to help students stay ahead in an ever-changing world.
Price: $1000
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Innovation Project Coaching
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Innovation Certificate
Personalized guidance for students who want to take their design projects further and get them to a “portfolio-ready” state.
When students finish the Innovation Certificate they have a strong understanding of the problem they want to work on and a low resolution prototype that has seen some early testing.
Many students have said they would like the opportunity to further iterate on their prototypes. They would like to validate their ideas thoroughly and get their prototypes to a more refined state. The goal for students who receive coaching is that they come away with a project portfolio and/or a project pitch that they can use in college admissions and job applications. Furthermore, they deepen their storytelling and design skills.
Coaching package of (10) 30 minute sessions: $500
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Internship Accelerator
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the Innovation Certificate
Our Internship Accelerator gives students who successfully complete the innovation certificate the opportunity to apply their new skills in a professional context while also gaining a better understanding of different career paths and the workings of the professional world. The program is 4 weeks long and not only do students gain valuable experience working with an industry partner, but they are also supported by a Design Tech Career building coach to help them make the most of their experience.
Students may enroll in this course multiple times.
Price: $1000
Additional Seminars
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AI for Creative Problem Solving
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Design Thinking Bootcamp
This workshop explores with students how to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in solving complex design challenges, blending AI with the design thinking process. Students explore AI tools for ideation, data analysis, prototyping, and testing. They will work on real-world projects that demonstrate how AI can assist with generating insights, automating feedback, and refining ideas based on user data. Each module is designed to help students apply AI in ways that complement their creativity and enhance problem-solving skills. This course runs for about 4 weeks, meeting 2 times / week for an hour.
From using machine learning to simulate user interaction with prototypes to employing AI-powered brainstorming tools, this course introduces students to the future of design and innovation. By the end of the course, students will have built a toolkit of AI-driven methods that will allow them to approach design challenges more efficiently and with deeper insight.
Price: $500
Course Schedule and Logistics:
Click a course below to expand
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Summer: 12 hours, 4 consecutive days, 3 hours each day
Fall & Spring: 18 hours, 9 consecutive weeks, 1 day a week, 2 hours each day
Foundations in Design Thinking. Sessions are remote unless otherwise noted, open to any teen who does not go to d.tech.
Fees: $750 online, $1000 in person
$250 discount applies to d.tech staff members & Oracle employees
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Summer: 16 hours, 4 consecutive weeks, 2 days a week, 2 hours each day.
Fall & Spring: 16 hours, 8 consecutive weeks, 2 days a week, 1 hour each day.
Meetings are remote. Must have completed and demonstrated proficiency in the Design Thinking Bootcamp
Fee:
$1000
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Summer: 4 weeks, 5 days a week, 4 hours each day.
Open to students who earn Innovation Certificate.
Prep week before internships begin requires 2 days, 2 hours a day.
Fee: $1000
$250 discount applies to d.tech staff members & Oracle employees
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Following successful completion of Innovation Certificate
1:1 or small team coaching
(10) 30 minute sessions
Fee is $500
Summer 2025 Calendar of Offerings
Needs based scholarships may be available based on your family income level.
*Exact meeting times might be adjusted depending on enrollment and instructor availability.
Your journey begins here.
Take these steps to participate:
Decide which courses you want to take.
Complete this Enrollment Form and select your courses.
Look for a confirmation email that will include fee and payment information.
Once payment has been received, the instructor will follow up a few days prior to the first class session with an introductory email and a zoom link for class.
If you aren’t quite ready, that’s ok!
Register for a Test Drive to learn more.