The USC Iovine and Young Academy is committed to building and strengthening an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible learning environment for the next generation of creative leaders and innovators. The Academy’s founding principles of intersectionality recognizes that human potential and success can only be fully realized by including people from all cultures, identities, background, abilities, perspectives, thought, and purpose. 

Inclusive learning is a teaching methodology that strives to support the learning styles, needs and preferences of every student, regardless of background or identity. This approach intentionally cultivates a safe and supportive learning environment that respects diversity, encourages equitable participation, and reduces barriers to learning, wherever possible.

As pedagogy, inclusive learning is woven throughout the Academy’s curriculum to engage students, faculty, staff, and the community in meaningful, relevant learning experiences. Each student has the opportunity to develop their learning style, specialized skills, and talents vis-à-vis diverse cohort members and work collaboratively to create real-world solutions that reflect a myriad of unique perspectives. At its core, inclusive learning is inherently human-centric and seamlessly partners with the Academy’s integrative concentrations and human-centered research methodologies. 

Faculty Series: Inclusive Design with Davina Wolter

Inclusive learning is central to every aspect of the Academy’s learning experience. Throughout their studies, Academy students will gain:

Knowledge, skills, and human-centered methodologies to evaluate diverse perspectives with empathy and understanding

Increased capacity to set aside assumptions to deeply understand the needs, desires, behaviors, and perspectives of others

Diverse cultural, social, and emotional intelligences and competencies to navigate complex, global challenges

Strategies to communicate and collaborate effectively across diverse, cross-disciplinary teams

Purpose-driven mindset to build products, processes, solutions, and communities that are inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible

Hands-on, immersive learning opportunities to apply knowledge, skills, and strategies in collaboration with leading industry partners on real-world projects

Inclusive design methodology is a key contributor to successful human-centered design. It is a design process that begins with diversity of thinking, analysis, and participation so that everyone has a sense of belonging in the solution. Inclusive design considers there is no average in solution-building and strives to respond to individual needs and plans for adaptability. Pushing beyond the practice of universal design, inclusive design engages and elevates appropriate stakeholder groups, context, and potential points of exclusion. 

Design allyship is a complementary budding design process that encourages problem-solvers of all backgrounds and identities to embrace allyship as a method of creating meaningful change in the way products, services, and solutions are designed. It requires designers to raise the standards of how they generate inclusive responsive solutions for key audiences, and to hold all collaborators accountable for the impact of their solutions. 

The Academy’s Inclusive Design and Design Allyship framework is foundational to all hands-on, challenge-based projects, especially as it relates to design research, community building and participation for inclusive outcomes. Throughout their course of study, students will gain:

Foundational human-centered design methodologies, research, techniques, and implementation strategies to achieve inclusive outcomes

Understanding of and distinctions between inclusive design (IDX) and universal design, participatory design, design justice, ADA, and equitable design

Strategies to respond to individual needs and plan for adaptability

Understanding of how exclusion and mismatch occur in the design process

Knowledge, skills, and expertise to launch a successful community-based inclusive design practice

The USC Iovine and Young Academy is committed to building and strengthening an inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible learning environment for the next generation of creative leaders and innovators.

Inclusive Learning

Subscribe to our Newsletter