Designing for Liberation

This is a live, interactive, course beginning January 29, 2026

Registration opens December 6th and limited to 25 participants

Join the Waitlist
Join the Waitlist

Designing for Liberation

This course is an invitation to imagine and build equitable, liberatory futures — starting with ourselves.

Through a framework spanning four domains — Self, Community, Work, and Environment — we explore how personal transformation can lead to systemic change.

Rooted in decolonial, Indigenous, and community-based knowledge systems, this course invites learners to examine their positionality, power, and purpose in today’s world.

Unlike traditional leadership or social change programs, this course blends deep self-inquiry with real-world application, integrating inner-led transformation, trauma-informed practices, and the power of storytelling, imagination, and joy as tools for liberation.

Together, we move beyond critique and into visionary practice — grounded in care, hope, and solidarity.

Who This Course Is For

Designers, researchers, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to create work that supports justice, care, and community; 

Activists, organizers, and social impact leaders seeking tools and frameworks for equitable, decolonial, and participatory worldbuilding; 

Those ready to examine their positionality and power within systems of oppression, and lead with integrity, imagination, and accountability; 

People seeking clarity and purpose in how they live, work, and contribute to more sustainable and liberated futures for people and the planet. 

Guiding Questions:

  • How can we lead with integrity and purpose amid uncertainty — and what tools and practices will sustain us as we shape the future?

  • How can ancestral wisdom and collective care help us heal a culture of individualism?

  • How are our inner transformations connected to the well-being of our communities and the planet?

  • What would a future rooted in accountability, justice, and joy look like — and how will we help bring it into being?

Join us Tuesday, November 18th for a live Q&A session with Hanieh to learn more about the course and see if its a good fit for you!

Register for Open House

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will gain:

  • A grounded understanding of their positionality, values, and role in systems of power — and how to cultivate intentional, integrity-driven leadership.

  • Practical tools and frameworks for building equitable, community-rooted futures, including participatory, trauma-informed, and systems-thinking approaches.

  • A deep grasp of how stories, imagination, and ancestral wisdom shape our world — and the ability to reclaim these as methods for liberation and resistance.

  • A personal framework for action — a tangible project that reflects their vision for justice and transformation.

  • A supportive network of like-minded peers dedicated to sustaining resilience, hope, and collective care in times of crisis and change.

Real World Project

Throughout the course, learners will design their own Liberation Framework – a personal map of values, principles, and practices that guide how they live, work, and create change. This living document challenges conventional ideas of work and success, offering a regenerative path for showing up with integrity and purpose. At the end of the course, learners will have greater clarity on their calling, impact, and how to sustain liberatory action over time.

Join the Waitlist

Meet Your Teacher

Hanieh (she/her)

Hanieh is an independent design consultant, researcher, and community organizer working in pursuit of people and the planet.

Born in Iran and raised in Tkaronto on Turtle Island, her life across these two worlds has shaped a deep commitment to gender equality, collective liberation, and social justice.

For over a decade, she has applied the principles of human-centered design, participatory research, and systems thinking to design and scale products, services, and programs across health, gender, and climate.

Hanieh is also the co-founder of Thousand&One, a feminist community that supports Women of Colour to thrive in their personal and professional lives. She holds a Master of Science in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of York in the UK.

Course Schedule

8 Weeks starting Janary 29, 2026

Live, interactive session at 9 AM PDT, 12 PM EST, 5 PM BST

Recordings available if you can’t attend live.

    • Thursday, January 29, 2026

    • Thursday, February 5, 2026

    • Thursday, February 12, 2026

    • Thursday, February 19, 2026

    • Thursday, February 26, 2026

    • Thursday, March 5, 2026

    • Thursday, March 12, 2026

    • Thursday, March 19, 2026

    *Sessions may be rescheduled in emergencies.

This is a live, interactive class and registration is limited to 25 students.

Sign up to be notified when registration opens.

Join the Waitlist

  • "Hanieh is a young feminist leader who embodies intersectionality not as a theory alone, but as a daily practice and mission – deeply sensitive to power, privilege, and the lived realities of those at the margins. In a political climate marked by acute repression and violence, Hanieh has worked to build ecosystems of care and solidarity that prioritize sustainability, protection, and feminist healing. She reminds us what visionary leadership looks like: principled, intersectional deeply, collaboration, and rooted in love and resistance."

    –Inga Weller, client and collaborator

  • "Hanieh is methodical in her work, and brings a lot of integrity to everything she touches. She’s also passionate and opinionated, almost cynical, and yet still very fun to work with, bringing a positive, laugh-out-loud energy to team collaboration."

    –Kirk Clyne, Former Manager 

Dates & Elligibility

Starting

January 29, 2026

$800 + applicable taxes

Seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Limited to 25 students.

Join the Waitlist

All learners must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the course.

Learn and apply to scholarships available.

FAQs

  • Our courses are designed for lifelong learners — visionaries, educators, artists, activists, builders, and anyone ready to reimagine systems and create what’s next. No formal academic background is required; what matters most is your curiosity and commitment to learning in community.

  • Each course is co-taught or designed by leading academics and practitioners who bridge theory with real-world practice. Courses are intentionally small (limited to 25 learners) and combine academic rigor, experiential learning, and community connection. Every course has a real-world project or creative output, so you leave not just with knowledge — but with something you’ve created.

  • Courses run anywhere from 6-12 weeks and include a combination of live sessions, readings, and experiential assignments. Sessions are held live on Zoom and recorded for those who cannot attend in real time.

  • The tuition for each course is set by the faculty and limited scholarships are available to ensure accessibility. Registration details and payment options will be available on each course page once enrollment opens.

  • To keep learning intimate and collaborative, each course is capped at 25 learners. This ensures everyone has space to share, connect, and receive personalized feedback.

  • All live sessions are recorded and shared with participants. While attending live is encouraged to build community, we understand that life happens — you can still fully engage through recordings, readings, and project submissions.

  • Yes — learners who complete all sessions and submit their final project will receive a Certificate of Completion from the School of Radical Imagination. More importantly, you’ll walk away with a tangible creation and a network of peers working on similar visions for change.

  • Each course page includes an overview of the topics, faculty background, and intended outcomes. If you’re unsure which course aligns with your goals, you can schedule a 15-minute call with an Academic Advisor to explore your interests and options.

  • Before registration opens, each course will host a 1-hour Open House — a live Q&A session with the faculty where you can learn more about the course content, structure, and vision. This is also a chance to meet other interested learners and feel into whether the course is right for you.

  • Yes! We welcome new faculty who align with our mission and approach. If you are an academic, practitioner, or artist interested in teaching, you can submit a course proposal through our website or reach out directly to the team.