Unlike traditional secondary education, the NuVu curriculum is centered on a collaborative design approach. Students develop projects which integrate applied math, art, engineering, social sciences, music, architecture, industrial design, biology and technology as part of a larger design goal. With the support of NuVu coaches (visiting innovators and experts in their field), students advance their ideas through a critical, iterative design process. NuVu has an average coach to student ratio of 1:6, and each student will receive extensive one-on-one support from coaches.

The program begins with a one-week Genius Camp where students learn the basics of graphic design, drafting, 3d modeling, rapid prototyping, electronics, programming, and various professional software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Rhino. After completing genius camp, students will participate in seven two-week cross-disciplinary studios. Past studios have included DIY Prosthetics, Hacking Medicine, Nomadic Architecture, Redesigning the Boston T Map, Interactive Fashion, and Health Video Game Design. The semester also includes three-week independent project period where students refine their portfolio and have the opportunity to further develop a project of their choosing.

NuVu’s structure is based on 2-week long Studios. These intensive Studios begin by identifying an issue or point of inspiration, defining the problem, and then engaging in an iterative process toward a solution. Each Studio runs for 2 weeks, culminating in a final review where external reviewers (professors, practitioners, entrepreneurs and designers) are invited to evaluate students’ work. During the Studio period, students and coaches work together at NuVu from 9am to 3pm with the option to stay until 5pm (which happens frequently, especially before the final review).