Learn to harness the power of design thinking and artificial intelligence to create lasting change.
In partnership with the University of the Pacific, Ensō Education Institute is proud to offer this pioneering certificate program, the next evolution of our Kairos design sprint curriculum. This program is for passionate creators, aspiring entrepreneurs, and community leaders who want to move beyond ideas and build tangible, AI-powered solutions to pressing social challenges.
Over three sequential courses, you will embark on a comprehensive design journey, from deeply understanding a community’s needs to launching a viable product. You will not just learn theory; you will build a real-world project, culminating in a professional portfolio piece and the skills to continue your work as a social innovator.
What You Will Achieve
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive:
- A Certificate in Designing with AI for Social Impact, including three graduate-level professional development units/credits from the University of the Pacific.
- A Portfolio-Ready Project that showcases your end-to-end problem-solving skills. Your portfolio will include research insights, an iterated Minimum Viable Product (MVP), a Business Model Canvas, a complete launch plan, and your final presentation.
- A Professional Network of design thinking experts, AI specialists, and the passionate change-makers from your cohort.
The Program Journey
This is a three-course, asynchronous online program with a paced format. Each course is five weeks long and builds directly on the work from the previous one.
Course 1: Designing with AI for Social Impact
(September 8th – October 12th, 2025)
This foundational course establishes the groundwork for your project. You will learn to identify a meaningful social challenge, connect with communities through empathy-driven research, define a specific problem, and brainstorm initial AI-driven solutions. The course culminates in a well-defined MVP proposal.
Course 2: Prototyping Your AI-Powered Solution
(October 20th – November 23rd, 2025)
Bring your idea to life. Building directly on the MVP concept from Course 1, you will learn hands-on prototyping techniques suitable for AI solutions. You will design and conduct user tests with community members, analyze feedback, and iteratively refine your MVP into a functional prototype.
Course 3: Launching Your AI-Powered Solution
(December 1st, 2025 – January 18th, 2026, with a two-week winter holiday break)
Prepare for real-world implementation. Taking your refined MVP from Course 2, you will develop a sustainable business model, build an online presence for your solution, design a social media and outreach campaign, and create a comprehensive 30-day launch plan. The program culminates in a Virtual Showcase Day where you present your project to a network of peers and professionals.
Pilot Program Details
- Dates: September 8, 2025 – January 18, 2026
- Format: Paced Asynchronous Online
- Cohort Size: Limited to 15 participants to ensure a highly collaborative and supportive experience.
- Pilot Pricing: $100 for the entire three-course certificate program.
Ready to design the future? Register now to join our inaugural cohort.
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