enroll now for September 2026

Innovation Certificate
+ Mentorship

ENROLL NOW ➝

LEARN BY DOING ➔

A Fast-Paced, Hands-On Creative Experience Offered Online.

This intensive online program starts with a fun, fast-paced, “learn by doing” experience that gives students concrete tools and strategies to be more creative in solving complex problems. Students experience design thinking by working on a series of challenges that help them develop a specific mindset or strategy that is essential to the practice of design.

From there students move into subsequent weeks of a guided design studio experience, where they demonstrate that they possess the character and skill set to be an innovative and positive contributor to their community.

Students select their area of interest:

  • Community Impact where they create a solution to solve a social challenge they are passionate about.

  • Design a Business where they develop a concept and create a plan to execute and launch their business.

pre-College PREPARATION ➔

From Design Challenges to a Meaningful Project.

This online program runs in a studio format where a master design teacher guides students to complete a design thinking project addressing an important issue that students see in the world around them. Simultaneously, students get a few sessions of 1 on 1 mentorship from industry or design professionals. These mentorship sessions are meant to support students in creating a stellar prototype.

This program meets online for a total of 40-48 hours.

Fall Session: September 15 – November 19, 2026 class sessions. Cohort A: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2 - 4pm Pacific Time. Cohort B: Tuesdays & Thursdays from 5 - 7pm Pacific Time. Choose the cohort that’s best for you.

Spring Session: January 12 – April 1, 2027 Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30–6:30 PM Pacific Time.

Enroll in Innovation Certificate

Video Interview

Nicole Cerra, Director of Innovation talks about the Innovation Certificate.

Meet Some of Our Mentors

  • Piotr Garbaczonek (he/him)

    Current role:
    Mastering Engineer/Producer

    Background:
    d.tech founding student, Class of 2018

    LinkedIn Profile

  • Rikako Ono (she/her)

    Current role:
    Bilingual Audit staff at EOS Accountants LLP

    LinkedIn Profile

  • Kian Thompson (he/him)

    Current role:
    Student & Intern

    Background:
    Born in San Carlos, California, I’m an aspiring entrepreneur and sales strategist focused on building scalable ideas, developing talent, and driving meaningful growth through disciplined execution and mentorship

    LinkedIn Profile