About the UnSchool

HOME OF THE DISRUPTIVE DESIGN METHOD

The UnSchool of Disruptive Design

Gain applied systems change skills that enable personal transformation and professional change-making growth

Sustainability Sciences

Design Skills

The Disruptive Design Method

A tried-and-tested technique, the Disruptive Design Method (DDM) offers a 3-step approach to activating positive impact in the world. Anyone, anywhere, can use the DDM to understanding complex problem, apply a systems thinking approach to identify their best intervention point within their sphere of influence and then design solutions that shift the status quo.

10 Years of Making Change by Design

Dr. Leyla Acaroglu created The UnSchool in 2014 as a reaction to her own reductive educational experience. Since then, the seed of an idea has grown into a global community of tens of thousands of people engaging with their own agency-building through in-person and online programs. We were one of the first places to provide accessible applied systems thinking, and still one of the only places to combine systems, sustainability and design as tools for changing the world.

Since its creation, The UnSchool has run immersive fellowships and workshops in 15 countries, trained 30,000+ people online, and written 6 handbooks (plus one cookbook!). We have been commissioned to build curriculums for countries and communities, restored a farm whilst experimenting with a brain spa concept, and created a comprehensive library of free change-making resources, books, and toolkits.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE UNSCHOOL

Join an online learning lab for impact-driven professionals, students and educators to uncover new skills
Learn the Disruptive Design Method, a proven 3-step approach for activating positive impact
Adopt practical tools for contributing to solving the world's biggest challenges and enacting the UN's SDGs
Understand complex problems, apply systems thinking tools, identify intervention points, and design solutions that shift the status quo
Gain applied systems change tools and sustainability skills to enable personal transformation and professional growth

WHY UNSCHOOL?

Advancing Systems Solutions

The traditional education system centers on reductive and linear learning — and it’s not working. Many people leave their 4-year degrees without the tools they need to effect change in the world around them.

The UnSchool fills the gaps left by mainstream education, specifically offering advanced thinking tools like systems thinking, creative problem-solving techniques through the Disruptive Design Method, and applied sustainability through life cycle and circular thinking.

HOW WE DO IT

The UnSchool Ecosystem

The UnSchool Ecosystem is a comprehensive collection of online resources designed to help you solve complex problems and make positive change in your community. The goal is to advance sustainable, equitable and regenerative systems solutions by equipping people all over the world with the tools and techniques needed to activate change.

Whether you want an All-Access Pass that gives you full access to everything The UnSchool offers or you’re looking to get started with a free resource, you can easily design the learning and skill development adventure that works best for you

Choose from:

A diverse array of 100+ online courses
Action toolkits & timed challenges
Handbooks and workbooks
Accredited certification tracks
Free classes & resources

Equipping Over 30,000 Learners

See What Our Students Have To Say

Gabrielle

I look forward to reaching my students the tools and the associated mindset. Learning to love the problem and to accept messiness and uncertainty is likely to make a lot of difference in their lives.

Class participant

UnSchool has truly been a game changer for me. Thank you for offering something so accessible and supportive of individuals shifting the status quo.

Maik

Systems thinking! I am an engineer and did have a quite technical definition of a supply chain (which was what my mental model of a system more or less looked like) in mind. The idea of systems thinking and how this is understood in circular design really was an eye opener to me!

Scout

I loved every moment of it. Did the course deliver what it said it would? Advanced? Tick. Training? Tick. Circular Systems Design? Tick, tick tick. Yeah, I filled a gap in my knowledge, but far beyond that.

Catriona

FCar exceeded my expectations. The content has given me a practical way to delve into complex problems, exploring thinking far beyond my normal lines of inquiry, and to surface new areas for intervention and innovative ways of designing those interventions. Everyone who is tackling systems should learn this.

Michael

As someone operating in the nonprofit sphere, it was refreshing to branch out and learn a new way of thinking. I’m going to take this new learning to become an agent of cultural change in my circles.

Evile

I'm super inspired by the @unschools online classes so far - this is everything I wish my $24k design education had been (but surely wasn't)

ROLLING APPLICATIONS

APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP

We want to support as many people as possible with the tools for creating a positive impact for a more circular future. That's why we maintain a year-round equity access policy that enables anyone to apply for a scholarship. Complete this quick application, and we will give you a fee reduction of up to 75%. Since 2014, we have given $500,000+ worth of scholarships! We also continue to create free tools and resources that work towards knowledge equity.

While an open policy, this offer especially applies to historically marginalized communities, persons from First Nations, Aboriginal, Native or other Indigenous communities, and people who live in places that are vulnerable to climate-related impacts and inequitable pay gaps.

Apply Now