Institute of Design

Institute of Design. Founded in 1937 as the New Bauhaus, it is a graduate school of Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, renowned for advancing the field of human-centered design. The school is celebrated for its rigorous methodology, interdisciplinary approach, and significant influence on modern design practice and education globally. It consistently ranks among the world's leading institutions for design thinking and innovation.

History

The school was established in 1937 by artist and educator László Moholy-Nagy with the support of the Association of Arts and Industries as the New Bauhaus, directly continuing the progressive ethos of the German Bauhaus school closed by the Nazi Party. After a brief closure, it reopened in 1939 as the School of Design, later becoming the Institute of Design in 1944 before merging with the Armour Institute of Technology, a predecessor of Illinois Institute of Technology, in 1949. Under the leadership of figures like Jay Doblin and later Patrick Whitney, it pioneered the development of systematic design methods, introducing one of the first PhD programs in design in the United States and fundamentally shaping the disciplines of design research and interaction design.

Academic programs

The school offers a suite of graduate degrees focused on advanced design practice and theory, including a Master of Design, a Master of Design in Design for Emerging Technologies, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Design. Its curriculum is built upon a foundational methodology that integrates user research, systems thinking, and prototyping, preparing students to tackle complex problems in business, social systems, and technology. The programs attract a diverse cohort of professionals from fields such as engineering, social sciences, and the humanities, fostering a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary learning environment.

Research and innovation

Research initiatives are central to its mission, often conducted in partnership with global corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Key research themes include futures thinking, circular economy, civic innovation, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. The school's faculty and students have contributed seminal tools and frameworks to the design world, such as rigorous empathy and generative design research methods. Its work is frequently presented at forums like the World Economic Forum and published in journals including Design Issues.

Notable faculty and alumni

Throughout its history, the school has been shaped by influential educators and practitioners. Founding director László Moholy-Nagy established its foundational philosophy, while later faculty like Charles L. Owen and John Heskett advanced design planning and history. Distinguished alumni have assumed leadership roles across industries and academia, including former Apple Inc. vice president Don Norman, pioneer of human-computer interaction Bill Moggridge of IDEO, and Samsung executive vice president Hyeonmo Ku. Other notable graduates include Michele Tepper, Ricky Burdett, and Dori Tunstall.

Campus and facilities

It is located within the Mies van der Rohe-designed campus of Illinois Institute of Technology in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The school occupies dedicated spaces in buildings like the IIT Institute of Design Building, featuring advanced prototyping labs, interactive computing studios, and collaborative workshop environments. These facilities support hands-on experimentation with technologies ranging from 3D printing and CNC machining to augmented reality and sensor networks, enabling the tangible realization of complex design concepts.

Category:Illinois Institute of Technology Category:Design schools in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1937 Category:Graduate schools in Illinois