Summer Springboard
Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping
IN BERKELEY
BUILD YOUR OWN 3D PRINTER AND MASTER RAPID PROTOTYPING TO DESIGN REAL-WORLD PRODUCTS FAST IN THIS IMMERSIVE COURSE IN BERKELEY
THIS IS A TWO-WEEK PROGRAM WHERE YOU’LL FOCUS ON ONE COURSE FOR THE ENTIRE DURATION.
Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping in Berkeley
- Design products using Autodesk Fusion360 and build your own Creality Ender Pro V2 3D printer.
- Gain a solid understanding of 3D CAD design principles and rapid prototyping techniques.
- Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on 3D CAD design and prototyping projects.
- Learn to create functional and visually appealing 3D-printed products by building and using your own 3D printer.
- Visit a local rapid prototyping co-location company and a drone manufacturer that utilizes rapid prototyping technology for their innovative product development process
Summer Springboard
Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping
About This Course
An engineering & design program for teens on a university campus in Berkeley
In this hands-on course, students will build their own 3D printer, which they will take home, and use it to develop prototypes throughout the term. Designed for students interested in engineering, product design, and manufacturing, the course offers practical experience in one of today’s most in-demand technologies: additive manufacturing.
Students will learn essential 3D CAD skills, including design methodology, geometric modeling, and assembly modeling—key components for creating precise, manufacturable designs. The course also covers the fundamentals of 3D printing, such as printer selection, maintenance, materials, and print techniques, all crucial for producing high-quality prototypes.
By the end of the course, students will be equipped to design and fabricate functional, visually refined 3D-printed products—giving them a competitive edge in today’s innovation-driven job market.
TOPICS YOU'LL EXPLORE
Hands-on Learning
This course offers a hands-on approach to 3D CAD design, where students actively apply core principles such as design methodology, geometric modeling, and assembly modeling to create accurate, manufacturable parts. Through building and customizing their own 3D printers, students gain practical experience with printer setup, maintenance, material selection, and print techniques. Using their printers, they will engage in rapid prototyping—quickly producing, testing, and refining their designs in real time. This immersive, project-based learning experience prepares students to bring their ideas to life through iterative design and fabrication.
Career Exploration
This course equips students with essential 3D CAD skills and hands-on experience building and using their own 3D printer for rapid prototyping. Last summer, students got to explore real-world applications through visits to places like Adobe, Inc., and Makelab SF, an on-demand 3D parts prototyping and production run manufacturer. These experiences offer valuable insight into careers in product design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
RESOURCES
Course Infosheet
Click here to view or download the printable infosheet for this course.
Program Catalog
Click here to request our catalog to learn more about our summer programs and courses.
Campus Page
Click here to view the website page for this campus and learn more.
“It was very informative, and a good learning experience, and it was a good opportunity to meet many different and interesting people.”
-Samantha M. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping
Meet Your Instructor
With over 25 years of experience in product development, systems engineering, and program management in the semiconductor, consumer, lighting, and IoT industries, Rudi Hechfellner brings expertise to this Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping course.
As a Director of Systems Engineering, Sensors and IoT in Silicon Valley, Rudi will share practical knowledge and real-world insights with students, providing hands-on experience in this evolving field. Rudi is a strong advocate of collaborative learning, community engagement, common sense approaches, and effective communication, committed to guiding students to excel in this course. With five years of experience as an Adjunct Professor and an active industry mentor, Rudi is thrilled to be part of this summer course in Berkeley.
RUDI HECHFELLNER
“It was a great opportunity for me to further explore a potential career path for me while also having a ton of fun. I believe wholeheartedly that this experience transformed me for the better.”
-Skye W. | Alumni Student
Summer Springboard
Design Thinking & Rapid Prototyping
Dates & Tuition
| 2026 Dates |
|---|
| Session 2: June 21 – July 3, 2026 |
| Session 4: July 5 – July 17, 2026 |
| Session 6: July 19 – July 31, 2026 |
Click here to enroll in this course using our online enrollment form.
| Tuition |
|---|
| Residential Tuition: $5,998 |
| Commuter Tuition: $3,298 |
| Course Supplement: $250 |
Apply by November 30 to lock in the lowest prices of the year. Tuition increases on December 1.
Tuition Protection Plan: Allows for cancellation for any reason up until the day of the program.
| Location |
|---|
| City: Berkeley |
| State: California |
| Campus: Berkeley |
Summer Springboard programs are not run by our campus partners (with the exception of Cal Poly, NYSID and UW Foster which are run in partnership with SSB). Universities and their affiliated departments and partners do not control and are not responsible or liable in any manner for any part of the Summer Springboard program.