What
CBS has two parts: a core weekly course on the self, transformation and leadership, and a set of electives ranging from typography and AI R&D to branded world-building and bio design.
Participants learn transformational skills: prompt writing for humans (and AI), methods to harness creative surplus, the art of holding space for others, and economic articulation. Over five years the program has hosted 200+ alumni across Europe and the United States. 2026 is the first in-person CBS.
Initially, I was unsure what I would gain by attending CBS because I've been conditioned to expect tangible outcomes. The progress I made was developing an awareness of myself as a designer and the language to articulate the value that only I can offer. This has helped me with written communication and to understand my customers' needs more effectively. CBS is a lived experience in a small group environment that feels safe, and Nitzan is excellent at helping you expand your understanding of the world without judgment or expectation.
Troy Leinster, Typeface Designer, Leinster Type
Why
Conventional education moves between the editorial (the canon) and the pedagogical (imparting skills), and leaves participants on their own when it comes to independent, diverse forms of thinking and being. CBS asks participants to articulate the value in their own thoughts. That criticality is what nurtures generosity.
Electives
Electives run as 90-minute in-person masterclasses with practitioners including Sam Spurlin, Leslie Bradshaw, Jan Wilker, Lily Baldwin, Jordan Czamanski, Stefani Bardin, Nikita Huggins and Lukas Bentel. Electives are open to the public through Luma, so a single session is an easy way to try CBS.
Who
CBS is led by Nitzan Hermon, a coach and educator specializing in complexity design, innovation, creative team dynamics and communication. He teaches at Parsons and was an inaugural member and coach-in-residence at NEW INC, the New Museum incubator for art and technology. He also works 1:1 with creatives and leaders through In Process.
On working with Nitzan
Sharpened my sword and regenerated my soul.
My vocabulary is broader, my practice is richer, my critical thinking is unparalleled. A gift to the self.
Simple questions that open up worlds of possibility.
He challenged me to break conditioned ways of thinking and opened the door to new ways of being in the world.
He helped me radicalize the language and thinking around my creative practice.
A true massage for the brain — a workout that flexed my synapses while connecting with others.
More testimonials on LinkedIn →
Where
Index Space, 698 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, New York City.
Cost
$500 per month. Membership includes two full days a week of access to Index's co-working space (Monday and Thursday), with hour-long meetings convened on those days from midday.
For teams
AI Literacy brings CBS into companies: three 90-minute workshops on prediction, language and computational thinking, for teams who use AI every day. On-site or remote.
Next step
Get in touch
Tell Nitzan what you're working on and what you'd like to get out of the year.