Spring 2026

Courses at the Wond'ry

Registration is now open for Spring 2026 curricular courses at the Wond'ry! Several new courses centering on advanced design and making are available this semester for students wanting to further their innovation skillset. Dive deep into the world of human-centered design thinking, master the art of need-finding and user research, and bring your ideas to life with hands-on making and prototyping skills.

Wond'ry courses are open to ALL majors!

For full descriptions of courses, please visit the Classes page on the Wond'ry website.

Available undergraduate classes for Spring 2026 are:

Design Discovery (ENGM 3890-01)

A deep dive into best practices for engaging in the early stage innovation and design thinking processes.

Class Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:15PM - 2:30PM

Enterprise Design Thinking (ENGM 3890-02)

A hands-on, project-based course tackling a real-world industry challenge as a team using the IBM Enterprise Design Thinking framework.

Class Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:15PM - 5:30PM

How to Make Almost Anything (and Make It Matter) (ME 3273-01)

An introduction to design thinking, computer-aided design (CAD), hand tools, digital fabrication, and rapid prototyping methods. Also, you get to make stuff!

Eligible for Immersion Vanderbilt's Immersive Experience component

Class Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:20PM - 2:20PM

Make It Real and Make It Matter (ME 3890-02)

A team-based, semester-long design/build/test project, crafting a design with an external sponsor/client through advanced prototyping methods, customer research and testing, and iterative client engagement.

Class Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:10PM - 5:00PM

Product Development (ENGM 4500-01)

A project-based course focused on managing the design, development, and commercialization of new products, from conception to prototyping to intellectual property, market testing, and manufacturing.

Class Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 2:45PM - 4:00PM

Wearable Product Design (ES 3890-03)

An exploration of the dynamic intersection of the human body, technology, fashion and textile design. Students critically examine the stages of sustainable product design while learning to craft garments from scratch.

Class Time: Tuesdays, 1:15PM - 2:30PM

Lab Section (Choose 1): Thursdays, 1:15PM - 2:30PM -or- 2:45PM - 4:00PM

Prototyping Hardware Tech (ES 3890-05)

An introduction to both the technical foundations and the collaborative, documentation, and outsourcing skills essential to real-world product development in electronics.

Class Time: Tuesdays, 2:45PM - 4:00PM

Lab Section (Choose 1): Thursdays, 1:15PM - 2:30PM -or- 2:45PM - 4:00PM

IMPACT Program Applications Open!

A brand new program at the Wond'ry, supported by funding from the Clark Foundation, is set to start in Spring 2026. The Innovation, Market-driven Productization And Commercialization of [Deep] Technologies--or, IMPACT--Program is a co-curricular program for undergraduates that addresses societal challenges, identifying unmet needs, generating solutions, and developing ideas into commercially viable prototypes.

Students will explore ideas in four key deep technology areas:

- Healthcare for Humans
- Sustainability for Planet Earth
- National Security
- Innovation Beyond Earth

The program will include experience with hands-on learning, including needs-finding sessions with experts in deep tech, prototyping assistance in the Wond'ry Makerspaces, and specialized access to industry mentors and investors.

All applicants will be invited to a more in-depth info and Q&A session.

Deadline to apply is December 1!

Apply Here.

Sullivan Family Ideator and Builder Program Logos

Sullivan Family Ideator & Builder Programs Accepting Applications for Spring Cohorts

The Sullivan Family Ideator is a free, 6-session virtual training program hosted by the Wond'ry and the Vanderbilt NSF I-Corps group and designed to help innovators evaluate their ideas and identify commercial potential.

The Builder Program at Vanderbilt, available to graduates of the Sullivan Family Ideator or similar Regional NSF I-Corps programs, provides a 10-week step-by-step guide for aspiring university-affiliated entrepreneurs (students, faculty, staff, and alumni) with a viable early-stage idea to launch a new venture.

Both programs are now accepting applications for Spring 2026 cohorts.

Deadline to apply to Sullivan Family Ideator is December 18, 2025. Apply here to Sullivan Family Ideator.

Deadline to apply to Builder is December 12, 2025. Apply here to Builder.

Wond'ry Reunion Weekend Open House

The Wond'ry will host an Open House for Vanderbilt Alumni during Reunion Weekend on Friday, November 7, 2025, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM in the Engineering and Science Building Lobby. Guests are invited to browse booths showcasing Wond'ry programs and go on guided tours of the Wond'ry to see all the exciting innovations!

Space-Edge Accelerator Accepting Applications

Space-Edge is an 12-week educational pre-accelerator that helps entrepreneurs explore how space can strengthen their business.

Deadline to apply is November 14, 2025.

Click here for more information on Space-Edge.

Innovation Spotlights

A collage showing TN Maker Fest 2025 activities, including exhibit booths of various technologies and a knitting machine exhibit

Innovation and Fun at TN Maker Fest 2025

On October 4, 2025, the Wond'ry welcomed innovators from around the Middle Tennessee area and beyond to exhibit at the annual TN Maker Fest. Makers of all ages were invited to browse over sixty exhibit booths and try hands-on making activities. The event is held annually in the autumn, with free admission for participants and exhibitors alike.

To follow updates on TN Maker Fest 2026, check out the website here.

Tikkun Olam Makers Makeathon 2025

The Vanderbilt Tikkun Olam Makers hosted their annual Makeathon at The Wond'ry, bringing together students and community members to design innovative solutions for individuals with disabilities. 13 teams of passionate makers collaborated to create custom technological solutions and adaptive tools designed to help individuals perform daily tasks with greater ease, free of cost to the client participants who will utilize their designs.

Click here for more info on Tikkun Olam Makers Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt Innovation Fellows Visit Nissan HQ

The Vanderbilt Innovation Fellows visited Nissan North America HQ as part of their ongoing collaboration exploring the future of vehicle design and user experience.This visit provided Fellows with an inside look at Nissan’s approach to innovation, where design, technology, and human experience intersect to shape how we interact with vehicles. The insights gained will inform their next phase of work, where Fellows apply human-centered design methods to imagine more seamless and intuitive driver experiences.

Participants of the Global Education Dean's Forum Workshop at the Wond'ry

Wond'ry Hosts Human-Centered Design Workshop for Global Education Dean's Forum

The Wond’ry facilitated an ideation workshop during the Global Education Dean’s Forum 2025 hosted by Peabody College, where deans from around the world explored new models for academic collaboration and innovation. Using human-centered design frameworks, participants worked through real scenarios to identify barriers, generate ideas, and prototype strategies for global partnerships.

Challenges and Opportunities

-Techstars | Deadline: Open-Ended

Fall Giving Campaign

Help support the Wond'ry by participating in the Fall giving campaign, and get a cool incentive item with your donation!

To designate your donation for the Wond'ry, select "the Wond'ry - Vanderbilt's Innovation Center" in the Designation box on the giving page.

Check out the Fall Giving Campaign here!

Fall Semester Hours

Offices

Monday-Friday: 9:00am - 6:00pm

Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Makerspaces

Monday-Thursday: 1:00pm - 8:00pm

Friday: 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Support the Wond'ry:

By making your tax-deductible gift to our Student Innovation Fund, you help us provide students with the funding they need to turn their ideas into reality. Donate here.

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