General Questions
What is DFA (Design For America)?
Design for America is a nationwide network of students using human-centered design to tackle local and social challenges. There are DFA chapters all across the nation at different educational institutes, all prioritizing social good in a design-thinking framework. At the UCSD studio, we focus on community-based projects that blend creativity, research, and impact, working with nonprofits and seeing how digital design can assist community partners.
Who can join DFA? Do I need to be a design major?
Anyone can join! Though we are design-focused, we welcome students from all majors and backgrounds—design, engineering, social sciences, business, and more. Interdisciplinary collaboration is what makes DFA projects strong.
What is human-centered design?
Human-centered design is a creative problem-solving process that begins with understanding people’s needs, then moves through ideation, prototyping, and testing to develop meaningful solutions. At UCSD DFA, we emphasize these principles in the context of human-computer interaction (HCI)—the study of how people engage with computers and digital interfaces in their everyday lives.
Membership & Involvement
How do I join DFA UCSD?
We recruit new members through the programs we offer. This year, we’re running two tracks: IDEA, our beginner-friendly program, and To-Be Designed (TBD), our advanced program for members with prior design experience. Both programs include lectures, workshops, and project opportunities with clients. Check out our Programs page for details, and follow us on Instagram to stay updated on recruitment dates. Beyond our programs, we also host community-wide events such as design-a-thons, guest speaker sessions, and more.
What’s the difference between IDEA and TBD?
IDEA (Intro to Design Exploration & Action) is our beginner-friendly program designed to introduce the fundamentals of human-centered design. Over 10 weeks, you’ll attend workshops, learn the key steps of the design process, work in teams, and collaborate on a project with a mock client. TBD (To Be Designed) is our advanced track for returning members, centered on larger, long-term projects with greater independence. Spanning 16 weeks, TBD pairs you with a real nonprofit client, giving you hands-on experience applying your design skills in a professional, impact-driven setting. If you perform well in IDEA, you will be a prioritized applicant if you apply for TBD the next quarter.
Do I need prior design experience to join?
Nope! Especially in our IDEA program, we’ll guide you through the design process and provide mentorship along the way. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn. For our To-Be Designed (TBD) program, however, we do expect some prior design experience since projects move at a faster pace and require more independent application of design skills.
What’s the time commitment like?
It depends on the program you join. IDEA meets weekly with lectures from 8–9 PM, followed by about an hour of work time. You can expect around 3–5 additional hours each week for project work and homework. TBD involves slightly more independent work—about 4–6 hours outside of meetings—but only meets biweekly for 1-hour general body meetings.
Projects & Impact
What kind of projects does DFA work on?
Our projects focus on addressing local and social issues in collaboration with community partners—primarily nonprofits with socially driven missions. All of our work is pro-bono, offering stakeholders design consulting and delivering high-fidelity prototypes or implementations, while members gain hands-on experience. Each TBD project pairs a team directly with a real community stakeholder, providing a comprehensive, impact-driven design experience.
What deliverables will I get out of this?
You’ll leave DFA with both skills and tangible work for your portfolio. Each project results in a high-fidelity prototype (typically in Figma) and a case study deck or presentation that documents your full design process. If in a program such as TBD, projects move toward real implementation through webbuilders and more. These deliverables can strengthen your portfolio, support applications to design-a-thons, and showcase your abilities in future opportunities.
How are projects assigned?
Members apply to projects through our program application forms. We then match teams based on interests, skills, and balance, ensuring everyone has the chance to contribute meaningfully. Our leadership team connects with potential project partners—primarily local nonprofits—over the summer and early fall, finalizing the client list before the programs begin.
Can we start our own project?
In our programs, unfortunately members can’t start independent projects. However, if you’re part of a community partner—such as a local business or nonprofit—or know one that would like to collaborate, we’d love to hear from you. You can submit a request through our email or contact form below, outlining your design needs.
Got any questions?
FAQ’s
Do I need any experience to join?
Do I need any experience to join?
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