Example of a student project built by Sai Kumar. Renux is an automated contractor outreach platform that was built from his own frustrations with trying to reach contractors.
The new “Design, Build, Ship” course at the University of Chicago is reimagining what hands-on learning looks like in computer science. Led by Professor André Marques, this intensive, fast-paced course challenges students to go beyond traditional coursework and instead bring their boldest ideas to life, whether that means launching a startup, building a civic tool, or experimenting with cutting-edge AI. We sat down with Professor Marques to learn more about the course’s inspiration, structure, and goals, and then spoke with students to hear how it’s impacted their thinking, creativity, and future plans.
Example of a student project built by Jessica Lin. Gleanr is an AI-powered knowledge tool that helps people capture, organize, and rediscover digital content without getting lost in information overload.
Q&A with André Marques, Professor of MPCS 51238 Design, Build, Ship
Q. What inspired you to create this course?
“I was inspired by a fundamental shift in my own creative process—I can now prototype in hours what once took weeks. This raised a question: what happens when students spend 100+ hours building with these tools? Not just generating code, but discovering what’s possible when traditional barriers fall away. I wanted to create an environment where students could experience that same shift: less time on setup and boilerplate, and more time bringing ideas to life.”
Q. What makes “Design, Build, Ship” different from other project-based or entrepreneurship courses?
“Students build what matters most to them—whether it’s a startup idea, a civic tool, or a creative experiment. Unlike many project courses that prioritize polished final presentations, or entrepreneurship courses that emphasize business plans, we launch early, test with real users, and build momentum through continuous, hands-on iteration.”
Q. How do you define “success” in this course? Is it about the product, the process, or something else?
“Success here is about engaging deeply with the process—exploring, iterating, and pushing through uncertainty. But the word “ship” is in the title for a reason. The experience of taking a rough prototype and turning it into a finished, functional product is rare in an academic setting. This course gives students the chance to complete that full cycle—building, refining, and deploying—in a supportive environment that values growth over perfection.”
Q. What kind of impact do you hope this course will have on students’ thinking or career trajectories?
“I hope students leave with genuine creative confidence—the sense that they can take any idea from concept to launch. By experiencing the full development cycle, they gain not only practical, hands-on skills but also the ability to navigate ambiguity, make decisions, and deliver real work. Just as importantly, they build fluency with AI tools and modern workflows, giving them an edge as these technologies redefine the creative and professional landscape.“
Q. Is there anything else you’d like to share about this course?
“It’s incredible to see what students have built. Many are already shipping to real users—it’s remarkable to see that level of momentum in such a short time.“
Professor Marques’s vision for the course is rooted in empowerment, giving students the tools, confidence, and freedom to turn abstract ideas into tangible impact. But, what does that actually look like in practice? To find out, we spoke with several students enrolled in “Design, Build, Ship”. Coming from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, each of them brought a unique lens to the experience. Their reflections highlight just how transformative this course can be both in the projects they created and the mindset shifts they’ve undergone along the way.
Example of a student project. AnimeHub is a vibrant space where fans can track and manage their watchlists, showcase profiles and anime stats, join servers, and dive into lively chats and posts.
Q&A with Current “Design, Build, Ship” Students:
Q. What made you want to take “Design, Build, Ship”?
- Shubham: “Having been at UChicago for 6 years now, I’ve loved the school’s theory and framework driven approach. However, after leaving undergrad I realized that it took me a while to truly understand how the things I learned in the classroom would apply to the industry. André’s class is a rare opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and practice. More importantly, his focus on rapid prototyping and implementation forces me to think in a business-context where the framework is turned on its head – learn through practice to then understand the theory.”
- Jessica: “I studied design for a few years before coming to UChicago to pursue computer science. While taking André’s Advanced UX class, he mentioned this summer course he was going to offer. That immediately stood out to me—it felt like the perfect chance to combine my design background with my technical skills and finally build something end-to-end. I hadn’t had many opportunities before to lead a self-directed project that spanned product, design, and engineering, so I was excited to see an idea through from start to finish.”
- Matthias: “André’s Design-Build-Ship class is arguably the most practical class I have taken in both undergraduate and graduate school. I feel confident in being able to use these practical skills I’m learning in my future work. André is extremely approachable and always happy to help troubleshoot any issues. Design-Build-Ship almost feels like a class where I’m gaining real work experience with weekly updates and feedback, which is invaluable and I’d highly recommend it for anyone that hasn’t worked in industry before.”
Q. Tell us about the idea you worked on—where did it come from, and how did it evolve?
- Shubham: “One of the great parts about DBS is that you get to work with students from other programs and backgrounds. Our team is myself (MPCS), Tyler (an undergrad) and Sai (MBA/MPCS). Sai has a unique background as a veteran and real estate developer who came to us with a problem he faced when working in his post-service career. It’s been awesome helping him build a better market place for both contractors and real estate developers.”
- Jessica: “I’ve always been interested in how people manage thoughts, memories, and information—especially in a world full of digital clutter. I started designing a tool that could help with that: something simple and intelligent that organizes and summarizes saved content in a way that actually makes it useful later. I approached the project holistically, starting with product and design (color palette, logo, user flow), and gradually building out the front-end and back-end. I used a rapid iteration workflow that helped me test ideas quickly and refine both the interface and technical stack along the way.”
- Matthias: “I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first signed up for Design-Build-Ship. I work as a Quantitative Trader in the field of high frequency trading and am currently on a non-compete period waiting for the start of my next role in November. During this period, I have been trying to upskill myself and become more well rounded – specifically, I have been using MPCS as a way to become more comfortable with the technology side of trading. The project I chose is a culmination of this in which I am trying to build a top to bottom trading system with both back-end and front-end implementation that replicates the type of system I would be using at my job. This has allowed me to vastly expand my understanding of some of the difficulties of building such a system and should significantly improve my performance in my work.”
Q. What was the biggest challenge you faced during the course?
- Shubham: “I’ve never had a class where I was in a team doing so much so quickly. Every week we launch an entire feature of our product, while also planning the next one. Unlike other courses where the week-to-week is well defined by the coursework, we get to define what our week to week is. This presents both a challenge and opportunity for growth.”
- Jessica: “One of the hardest parts was figuring out what to build first. I had too many ideas and not enough time. Working quickly was helpful, but it also made it easy to lose focus. After building an initial MVP, I made a feature map and prioritized based on impact and effort, which helped me focus on the core experience. Even with a minimal feature set, I wanted it to feel deliberate and well-considered.”
- Matthias: “The biggest challenge for me so far has been the pace at which we are moving. Using generative AI with advice from André and his team, I’ve been able to build a much more complex and sophisticated system than I ever would have thought I was capable of building. With how fast I’ve been building this system, keeping track of all the moving parts has been tricky and bogged down my advance. After chatting with André multiple times, I actually decided to start from scratch with what I’ve learned and build a better foundation for what I want to achieve. While this may sound like I wasted a lot of time building a system that I am somewhat discarding in order to build a better one, I believe I wouldn’t be able to build a better system had I not built this first version.”
Q. Any advice for future students who are considering taking this class?
- Shubham: “Don’t expect ‘hand-holding’ or clear ‘rules’ in this class. Take this class if you want the opposite – an opportunity to define out what the rules are (and break them!) while also setting your own bar for success. It’s very much a class that is what you want it to be and what you make of it.”
- Jessica: “Come in with an idea you’re genuinely curious about and be ready to take ownership of it. Most classes give you a rubric and tell you what to build. This one’s different, you’ll be using new tools, including AI, and making real decisions on your own. It’s one of the only classes I’ve taken that feels like a real-world experience, not just an assignment. It’s a unique chance to apply emerging tools and technologies in a hands-on way, and you’ll learn a lot by doing.”
- Matthias: “I would echo what Subham said here. This isn’t a class with a ton of structure, as I mentioned earlier, it almost feels like a real working environment where students are encouraged to come up with their own idea, build and iterate upon it with the advice and counsel of André and his team- who have been invaluable resources for me thus far. I would highly recommend this class to any student who wants to gain experience in the world of product building, and especially from beginning to end. Additionally, we have been using generative ai technology that is truly cutting edge and I expect to use it in my work.”
“Design, Build, Ship” is a class that challenges students to move fast, take creative risks, and build with purpose. Through rapid prototyping, real-time feedback, and exposure to modern AI workflows, students don’t just complete a course, they walk away with a portfolio, practical skills, and the creative momentum to carry their ideas forward. Whether they’re headed into industry, research, or entrepreneurial ventures, students who take this course gain the confidence that they can start with a blank page and ship something meaningful.