Transform Society through Design
At the Austin Center for Design, our students and faculty tackle problems related to homelessness, healthcare access and affordability, nutrition, personal wellness, consumption, poverty, sustainability and environmental impact, and other humanitarian issues.
A transformative educational experience
The learning experience at AC4D positions creative design education in the context of making social impact. Students learn interdisciplinary skills of creative design thinking, and apply these skills towards solving complicated problems of society and culture.
We support our students in discovering the power of creativity and making, and give them the skills to build out optimistic visions of the future. As students progress through our curriculum, they gain creative confidence and learn that the world around them can be changed for the better.
Founded by Jon Kolko
Instrumental in building both the graduate level Interaction and Industrial design programs at Savannah College of Art and Design, Jon Kolko established AC4D as a progressive educational institution teaching interaction design and social entrepreneurship in Austin, TX. His work focused on bringing the power of design to social enterprises, with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and large-scale industry disruption.
He is the author of Wicked Problems: Problems Worth Solving, published by Austin Center for Design.
The AC4D approach is built on three pillars
Rapid prototyping
Make things. We believe in making ideas tangible. Through constant prototyping, our students learn how to manage complex social and cultural issues.
Abductive reasoning
Trust your intuition. Our program encourages "best guess" leaps and abductive logic, allowing students to make sense of incomplete data and drive innovative solutions.
Empathy
Build empathy. We teach our students to not just understand but to feel what it's like to be another individual, fostering designs that cater to both utility and emotion.
The alumni experience
"Being an alumni of AC4D is a constant reminder of how unique and valuable my experience as a student of the school truly was.
Anchoring my ability to make real social impact is the skill I've gained to develop my own frameworks through which I can navigate ambiguity for myself, but more importantly share that with those around me. I meet the work I do each day with the opportunity to broaden and scale what I gained from my time at AC4D."
WHO WE ARE
Our founding mission
Learn about our non-traditional approach to studying complex social problems.
CAREER TRANSITION
Want to be a designer?
Gain insights into the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to make a successful pivot into a design career.
ALUMNI STORIES
Gaining autonomy
Hear directly from alumni about how their lives and careers have been transformed from their time at AC4D.
Is AC4D the right stop on your learning journey?
Subscribe for an introductory email series giving you a glimpse into what we teach. We also share free resources, highlight student work, and invite you to events that help you get to know our close knit community.
Our Leadership & Faculty
Maryanne Lee
Managing Director
Josh Wright
Assistant Managing Director
Jonathan Lewis
Board Member & Alum
Margo Johnson
Board Member
Mark Phillips
Board Member
Vicky Pridgen
Board Member & Alum
Jon Kolko
Founder
Meg McLaughlin
Faculty
Beau Romero
Faculty
Ready to solve problems worth solving?
Transform your creative aspirations into reality as you learn from experienced professionals at the Austin Center for Design. Dive into hands-on projects, receive personalized feedback, and develop a solid foundation that will kickstart your design career.
