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Education Overview

Three CoDesign 4 transition designers working on a wall poster and stickies
Diagram of the transition design framework's 4 areas: visions, theories of change, posture & mindset and new ways of designing; Hitatchi announcement of a lecture on transitions featuring Terry Irwin and local Japanese experts.
Diagram explaining the transition design applied approach and how it spans long horizons of time—both into the past and the future

TDI offers a range of educational opportunities in both online and in-person formats.

Transition Design Educational Workshops and Courses

The Transition Design Institute offers customized online and in-person workshops for organizations and groups, as well as an open-enrollment, intensive online short course. These offerings equip participants with tools to navigate complex, systemic challenges through a Transition Design lens. Grounded in systems thinking, long-term visioning, and stakeholder engagement, they support the development of sustainable strategies for social and organizational transformation. Designed for executives, educators, policymakers, and change agents, they foster cross-sector collaboration, strategic foresight, and adaptive leadership. Participants gain actionable insights and frameworks for driving systems-level change and building resilience in an era of increasing complexity.

Lectures and Keynote Presentations

TDI faculty and doctoral students offer engaging online and in-person lectures and keynotes on a wide range of topics, including the Transition Design approach, design for systems change, systems thinking, cosmopolitan localism, and designing systems interventions. These talks introduce new ways of thinking and working systemically, helping audiences apply Transition Design principles to their own fields. Tailored to organizations, conferences, and academic institutions, they provide fresh insights into tackling complex challenges and catalyzing transformative change.

Professional Certificate in Transition Design

A Certificate Program in Transition Design is currently in the planning stages and will offer a more extensive, in-depth experience than the open-enrollment short course. Based on the Transition Design seminar, the certificate combines theory with sustained practice in stakeholder research and engagement. Participants will explore systems thinking, wicked problems, and long-term visioning, gaining new frameworks to rethink their work. Through applied exercises, they will map complex systems, identify leverage points, and co-create sustainable solutions. The program is designed for those seeking deeper engagement and the ability to embed Transition Design within organizations, communities, and policy contexts.

We are currently accepting expressions of interest. Please contact Terry Irwin at tirwin@andrew.cmu.edu.