At Future Design School, we define future readiness holistically. We believe students must be supported not only in what they learn but in who they become.
That means intentionally developing learners’ wellbeing, social emotional competencies, learning strategies, character and future ready skills in tandem — over time and with purpose.
Our Portrait of a Graduate provides an actionable framework for what students need to thrive in an uncertain, complex and rapidly changing world.
A Holistic Model for Learner Development
Each domain is composed of specific, research identified skills that are highly transferable across roles, industries and life contexts and remain relevant no matter what the future holds.
Rather than treating these skills as isolated outcomes, our Portrait recognizes that higher order competencies are built upon strong foundations. Skills such as creativity, collaboration and critical thinking can only flourish when learners experience wellbeing, psychological safety and a strong sense of self.
Future Design School’s Portrait of a Graduate is structured as an integrated framework made up of five interconnected domains:
-
Wellbeing
-
Social Emotional Learning
-
Learning Skills
-
Character Development
-
Future Ready Skills
Wellbeing
THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL LEARNING
Wellbeing is the foundational ring of Future Design School’s Portrait of a Graduate. It reflects the understanding that learning cannot be separated from a learner’s state of being.
Students who experience positive wellbeing are better positioned to persevere through challenge, engage deeply in learning and grow with confidence.
KEY WELLBEING ATTRIBUTES INCLUDE:
- Identity – A strong sense of self, values and personal worth
- Optimism – A belief in the future and the ability to view challenges as opportunities
- Psychological Safety – Feeling safe to take risks, express ideas and learn
Educators play a critical role in cultivating environments that honor identity, foster inclusion and model practices that support wellbeing — for themselves and for learners. This foundation enables all other skills to develop authentically and sustainably.
Social Emotional Learning
UNDERSTANDING SELF AND OTHERS
Upholding wellbeing is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) — a core component of Future Design School’s Portrait of a Graduate.
Through SEL, learners develop emotional intelligence and strengthen both self and social awareness through real, meaningful experiences. These skills enable students to navigate complexity, build healthy relationships and make responsible decisions in diverse contexts.
CORE SEL COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:
- Emotional Intelligence
- Healthy Relationships
- Responsible Decision Making
- Self and Social Awareness
- Self Regulation
By embedding SEL intentionally into learning experiences, educators create the conditions for students to engage deeply, take appropriate risks, reflect on impact and contribute positively to the wellbeing of others.
Learning Skills
HOW STUDENTS LEARN MATTERS
The Learning Skills domain focuses on the tools, strategies and mindsets learners need to engage meaningfully with learning — both in and beyond the classroom.
In a world with unlimited access to information, learners must know how to think critically, reflect deeply and build understanding over time.
KEY LEARNING SKILLS INCLUDE:
- Constructive Doubt – Questioning to deepen understanding, not dismiss ideas
- Goal Setting & Planning – Identifying and pursuing meaningful learning goals
- Long Term Memory – Building understanding through reflection and application
- Metacognition – Understanding how and why one learns
- Self Reflection – Making meaning from experience
- Use of Learning Strategies – Selecting and applying strategies that support individual learning needs
These skills foster intrinsic motivation, lifelong learning and the confidence to navigate unfamiliar challenges.
Character Development
WHO LEARNERS CHOOSE TO BE
Character Development is essential not only for academic and professional success but for cultivating responsible, empathetic and engaged members of society.
As the future of work continues to evolve, employers and communities are increasingly seeking individuals who demonstrate curiosity,empathy and a sense of responsibility for others and the world around them.
CORE CHARACTER TRAITS INCLUDE:
- Ambition
- Curiosity
- Empathy
- Resourcefulness
- Stewardship
At Future Design School, we emphasize that leadership is an action, not a title — and that ambition and innovation must be balanced with integrity, community and care for others.
Future Ready Skills
APPLYING LEARNING IN A CHANGING WORLD
The outer ring of the Portrait of a Graduate focuses on the transferable skills required to navigate an unknown future.
These skills are underpinned by the foundational domains and represent the application of learning in real world contexts.
FUTURE READY SKILLS INCLUDE:
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Design Thinking
Students learn to apply global and future focused perspectives, engage in equity and inclusion and use human centered design methods to solve authentic problems. Entrepreneurship is explored not just as a career pathway but as a mindset for navigating change, uncertainty and opportunity.
From Framework to Classroom Practice
What distinguishes Future Design School’s Portrait of a Graduate is not only what it defines but how it is used.
Each skill is supported by research, tools and a developmental continuum that helps educators and students unpack what these competencies look like in practice. This allows skills to be contextualized, taught, practiced, reflected on and revisited over time using practical, repeatable methods and protocols.
As part of the Future Design School network, educators gain access to the resources, language and structures needed to bring the Portrait of a Graduate to life — within the classroom experiences they are already designing.
A Living Vision for the Future
Future Design School’s Portrait of a Graduate is more than a statement of intent.
It is a shared vision, a developmental roadmap and a promise to learners — designed to evolve as the world changes, while remaining grounded in what learners need most to thrive.
Let’s Build Student Future Ready Skills Together!
Talk to us about adopting our Portrait of a Graduate.