{"685103":{"#nid":"685103","#data":{"type":"news","title":"New Course Gives Students a Hands-On Role in Designing for Dignity","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis fall, a new course in the College of Design offers Georgia Tech students an extraordinary opportunity to use design methods not just as tools for innovation \u2014 but as a means of human connection. Led by Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/id.gatech.edu\/people\/leandro-tonetto\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELeandro Miletto Tonetto\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E in the School of Industrial Design, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/catalog.gatech.edu\/coursesaz\/id\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EID 4843\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E: Applied Design Methods for Community Well-being invites undergraduate students to step beyond the classroom and into the lives of older adults experiencing cognitive decline, where design meets care and empathy fuels creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESupported by a 2025\u20132026 \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ctl.gatech.edu\/transformative-teaching-and-learning-faculty-initiatives\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETransformative Teaching and Learning Innovation Incubator Grant\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E from Georgia Tech\u2019s Center for Teaching and Learning, this course takes experiential learning to the next level. It\u2019s rooted in a partnership with A.G. Rhodes, one of Georgia\u2019s oldest nonprofit senior care organizations, and the newly renamed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/simtigrate.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESimTigrate Design Center\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (formerly SimTigrate Design Lab), where interdisciplinary collaboration drives design for health and wellness. The SimTigrate Design Center is also an affiliated center of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/neuro.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EInstitute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society,\u003C\/a\u003E further strengthening its commitment to advancing human-centered design in complex healthcare environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStudents will get a full hands-on experience designing products and environments that support horticultural therapy,\u201d said Tonetto. \u201cEveryone knows that this kind of therapy is effective. But what could make it even better? That\u2019s the open-ended design problem we\u2019re tackling.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorticultural therapy \u2014 using plant-based and plant-based activity as a therapeutic intervention \u2014 is at the heart of this first iteration. At \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.agrhodes.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA.G. Rhodes\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, residents participate in music and plant-based activities that stimulate cognitive function and foster joy. For students, the experience will push their design thinking beyond the studio.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDesign methods are mostly about understanding people\u2019s needs,\u201d Tonetto said. \u201cIn this course, students will be observing residents during therapy, conducting advanced interviews, and learning how to gather insights in more complex, real-world situations. We\u2019re going way beyond the basics.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECross-School Collaboration, Real-World Impact\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe course is also a collaborative effort across schools. Faculty from Architecture (Professor Hui Cai) and Building Construction (Professor Eunhwa Yang) are supporting parallel research projects at A.G. Rhodes, while Ph.D. student Ibrahim Bilau and MID student Yiran Wang contribute to the project from the School of Building Construction and the School of Industrial Design, respectively.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a perfect example of how design, architecture, and construction can work together for social good,\u201d Tonetto noted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat multidisciplinary approach is at the heart of the College of Design\u2019s mission \u2014 and why this course stands out as a signature learning experience. Tonetto is keeping the inaugural section intentionally small (fewer than 20 students) to provide close mentorship and ensure thoughtful, supported interactions with residents.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese students will leave with real-world design experience, yes\u2014but also a much deeper understanding of ethical design,\u201d Tonetto said. \u201cThey\u2019ll learn that good design isn\u2019t just about solving a problem. It\u2019s about dignity, dialogue, and shared meaning.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhy It Matters\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt a time when students are seeking purpose-driven education, this course offers something rare: the chance to make a tangible difference in someone\u2019s life while still in school.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe want students to see that their skills can do more than land a job,\u201d Tonetto said. \u201cThey can change lives.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAbout A.G. Rhodes\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA nonprofit senior care organization with three locations in metro Atlanta, A.G. Rhodes is known for its progressive approach to long-term care, including memory care, rehabilitation, and therapeutic programs like horticultural and music therapy. Learn more at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.agrhodes.org\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eagrhodes.org\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EAbout Leandro Miletto Tonetto\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETonetto is an Associate Professor in the School of Industrial Design with a background in psychology and 20 years of global experience in human-centered design. He leads research at the intersection of design, health, and well-being, and serves as convenor of the Design Research Society\u2019s SIG on Well-being, Happiness, and Health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EApplied Design Methods for Community Well-Being invites students to step into the lives of older adults experiencing cognitive decline, where design meets care.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Applied Design Methods for Community Well-Being invites students to step into the lives of older adults experiencing cognitive decline, where design meets care."}],"uid":"35575","created_gmt":"2025-09-19 13:50:26","changed_gmt":"2025-09-19 13:57:33","author":"adavidson38","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-08-20T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678079":{"id":"678079","type":"image","title":"dreamstime_m_340209791.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA new Georgia Tech course pairs students with older adults to design therapeutic tools that promote dignity, empathy, and real-world impact.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1758289848","gmt_created":"2025-09-19 13:50:48","changed":"1758289848","gmt_changed":"2025-09-19 13:50:48","alt":"A new Georgia Tech course pairs students with older adults to design therapeutic tools that promote dignity, empathy, and real-world impact.","file":{"fid":"262060","name":"dreamstime_m_340209791.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/19\/dreamstime_m_340209791.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/09\/19\/dreamstime_m_340209791.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2356906,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/09\/19\/dreamstime_m_340209791.jpg?itok=kDbhgn5c"}}},"media_ids":["678079"],"groups":[{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"}],"categories":[{"id":"137","name":"Architecture"},{"id":"42941","name":"Art Research"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"179355","name":"Building Construction"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193656","name":"Neuro Next Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:melissa.alonso@design.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EMelissa Alonso\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAssistant Director of Communications\u003Cbr\u003ECollege of Design\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["melissa.alonso@design.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}