Students
Students come to the Parsons MS SDM program from all over the world. Their experience combines studios, seminars, networking, events, symposia, and more. This page will inform you about student projects like First Year Studio and Second Year Studio, student resources, and other opportunities.
BIRD – EES 2025
The Energy of Mobility Powered by People. Bird seeks to enhance sustainable urban mobility by launching a low-infrastructure, publicly supported, station-based bike-share model designed specifically for underserved neighborhoods. Our project addresses major user pain points, including challenges in finding available bikes, frequent low battery issues, and concerns about safety. We reimagine micromobility through the concept of “reducing energy”, not only in terms of environmental impact but also by minimizing user effort and improving operational efficiency. We began by conducting interviews with New Yorkers and analyzing global micromobility trends in places like the UK and France. Through affinity mapping, systems thinking,…
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BIRD – EES 2025
The Energy of Mobility Powered by People. Bird seeks to enhance sustainable urban mobility by launching a low-infrastructure, publicly supported, station-based bike-share model designed specifically for underserved neighborhoods. Our project addresses major user pain points, including challenges in finding available bikes, frequent low battery issues, and concerns about safety. We reimagine micromobility through the concept of “reducing energy”, not only in terms of environmental impact but also by minimizing user effort and improving operational efficiency. We began by conducting interviews with New Yorkers and analyzing global micromobility trends in places like the UK and France. Through affinity mapping, systems thinking,…
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MICROSOFT – EES 2025
Our project, Align, focuses on improving productivity tools for individuals with ADHD by addressing key executive function challenges—specifically, planning and prioritization. While many existing productivity platforms assume a linear, neurotypical workflow, users with ADHD often struggle with fragmented tools, overwhelming interfaces, and difficulty determining where to start or what to prioritize. To better understand these challenges, we conducted surveys and interviews with neurodivergent professionals and analyzed how current tools like Microsoft CoPilot, Asana, and Google Calendar support (or fail to support) these users. Our research revealed that productivity tools often add to the cognitive load rather than reduce it—especially when…
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HOUSING WORKS – EES 2025
How can Housing Works evolve its retail experience to drive innovation in a values-driven market while staying true to its social mission? With Gen Z leading the charge in conscious consumerism, this project explored how the nonprofit can deepen engagement by embedding circularity, creativity, and community into every touchpoint. Through desk and participatory research, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and journey mapping, we audited Housing Works’ ecosystem and identified gaps in how the brand connects with its evolving audience. We also analyzed mission-aligned competitors to understand how loyalty and sustainability are being used to drive long-term relationships. The result: a two part…
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Parsons Festival 2025: Narwhal Tank Impact Ventures Showcase
Join Parsons School of Design’s Entrepreneurs Lab, in partnership with The Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative, for the first-ever Narwhal Tank, a unique venture pitching event designed to showcase The New School’s most impactful student and alumni ventures from across our ecosystem that are addressing pressing social and environmental challenges. Developed to create more just and verdant societies, come to support our budding entrepreneurs, give audience feedback, and help vote on the awardees “most likely to create impact.” ORGANIZERS: Parsons ELab: Founded in 2014, Parsons Entrepreneurial Lab is a design-led research lab dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship. Nurtured within the School of Design…
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MS SDM Capstone Symposium Spring 2025
The MS Strategic Design and Management program proudly celebrates the achievements of its 2025 Graduating Class at the MS SDM Capstone Symposium Spring 2025. We invite you to join students, faculty, alumni, and industry leaders for an evening of insightful project presentations, dynamic dialogue, and community celebration. The MS Strategic Design and Management Capstone Symposium showcases the culminating work of graduating students in the Spring 2025 cohort. Held during the weeks of April 29th and May 13th, the Symposium features final capstone presentations developed through months of research, strategic exploration, and design-led problem-solving. The MS SDM program, housed within the School of…
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MS SDM Students Win First Place at the Rotman Design Challenge 2025
MS SDM Students Win First Place at the Rotman Design Challenge 2025 We’re excited to share that five students from the MS SDM took first place at the 2025 Rotman Design Challenge (RDC)—an international competition focused on applying design thinking to complex business problems. The challenge, sponsored by Intact Insurance, invited students to reimagine the future of insurance by designing services that go beyond the standard claims experience to create deeper, more meaningful customer engagement. Meet Team North Star , Team North Star included: Ananya Harshini Alana Rhodin Yash Sonwaney Youngjun Shin Meenu Jain The team was supported by their mentor,…
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The Ethics of AI 2025 Conference
Parsons Students probe AI’s Ethical Crossroads at 2025 Conference In a bold fusion of design and ethics, the Ethics of AI Conference 2025 invited students and scholars alike to reimagine the future of artificial intelligence—not through policy papers or code, but through speculative artifacts that raise pressing socio-ethical questions. Held at Parsons School of Design, the exhibition was a thought-provoking journey into tomorrow’s dilemmas, curated entirely through the lens of critical design. Guided by designer and educator Andrew Shea, the exhibition showcased immersive, interactive projects by graduate students that explored some of AI’s most pressing ethical challenges—from memory manipulation and…
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Navigating Change: Museums, Nonprofits, and the Future of Cultural Institutions
On February 27, 2025, Jennifer Rittner facilitated a discussion with Dr Sharon Counts and Sruthi Sadhujan on how nonprofits and cultural institutions navigate change while maintaining their core mission and values. Sruthi Sadhujan, a brand strategist for nonprofits, shared her journey into organizational change, emphasizing that branding in the nonprofit space extends beyond logos and taglines—it’s a transformative process that affects culture, power dynamics, and institutional identity. She introduced a four-part framework for evaluating change: Treasures – Legacy practices and traditions that hold enduring value and should be preserved. Baggage – Outdated ways of thinking or operating that no…
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Spring 2025 Portfolio Masterclass and Alumni Review Session
Reflections on the Spring 2025 Portfolio Masterclass and Alumni Review Sessions We are thrilled to share that the Spring 2025 Portfolio Masterclass and Alumni Review Sessions were a success! The sessions were designed to provide the MS SDM students with invaluable tools and guidance to enhance their professional portfolios and advance their careers. Thanks to the incredible dedication and expertise of our alumni, the event exceeded expectations and proved to be an enriching experience for all involved. A Masterclass on Crafting an Effective Portfolio The Portfolio Masterclass, led by the talented Paul Benson, took place on February 6th. In this…
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