For 2026, the Interdisciplinary Elective invites course proposals that navigate the expansive spectrum between Primitive Roots and Futuristic Horizons. The overarching theme of the elective is built on the belief that the most profound design provocations emerge at the intersection of art, science, and technology. 

The trigger here is whether the design narrative from traditional problem-solving can be shifted toward a space of civilizational inquiry. By using artistic imagination, scientific investigation, and technological evolution, the elective examines the ‘Crossroad’ where traditional knowledge systems meet speculative futures.

The elective encourages proposals that challenge and provoke the learner to think across silos and engage with emerging methodologies. By bridging artistic imagination with scientific exploration and technological advancement, this elective fosters an environment of ‘critical thinking’ and ‘experimental making.’

Proposals should clearly demonstrate how participants will prototype new forms, systems, and experiences that redefine the role of design in knowing our past, understanding our present, and importantly, shaping our collective future as “what was,”  “what is”, and “what will or could be”.