In 2026, after nearly 90 years, the Institute of Design was folded into Illinois Tech's School of Design & Society.
This website is an archive of the impactful and inspirational work produced by the ID community before that transition.

László Moholy-Nagy opened the New Bauhaus in Chicago in 1937, treating design as a discipline that was teachable, testable, and consequential. Nine decades on, its scope had widened from the things people use to the systems they depend on: hospitals, government agencies, classrooms, supply chains, digital platforms. Along the way, ID community members developed the published research, methods, and frameworks that designers rely on every day.

Chief among them is human-centered design: close attention to how people actually live, and advocacy for what that research reveals. It shaped designers who are comfortable with complexity and ambiguity: curious, rigorous, inclusive, and stubbornly optimistic about design's ability to change the systems that shape our lives.

To every one of them, who taught, studied, built, critiqued, and stayed late in the studio: thank you, and keep designing.

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Immersions

Immersive Learning Experiences

Real Experience. Real Learning.

Immersive Learning Experiences are intensive, hands-on programs designed to spark new thinking, deepen leadership capability, and catalyze innovation.

Through curated site visits, interactive workshops, and facilitated reflection, these experiences engage participants with new systems, ideas, and ways of working across diverse global and local contexts.

Facilitated by ID faculty and expert practitioners, our immersions take place in locations selected for the richness of learning they offer—from urban innovation districts to rural communities and academic settings.

Who is it for?

  • Senior government leaders, policy makers, and transformation leads
  • Corporate innovation teams and L&D leaders
  • Cross-functional groups exploring systems change

What makes it unique?

  • Place-based learning: Participants engage with communities, systems, and practices in diverse settings.
  • Ideas in action: Learn from a range of organizations tackling pressing challenges with design, data, and dialogue.
  • Facilitated reflection and application: Guided debriefs turn experiences into insights—and insights into action.
  • Customization: Every detail—from location to learning arc—is shaped in collaboration with your organization.

Sample Topics

Explore cutting-edge challenges through immersive experiences:

  • Responsible AI and Ethical Design
  • Circular Economies and Regenerative Systems
  • Human-Centered Policy and Civic Innovation
  • Designing for Equity and Inclusive Services
  • Systems Thinking for Complex Change

Regardless of topic, immersions challenge participants to expand their perspectives, build capabilities, and translate insights into real change.

EXPLORE

Photo by Murmuring

Photo by Murmuring

Responsible AI Immersion

Our recent Shapeshift Immersion brought leaders together to explore real-world applications of responsible AI—equipping participants to lead with both innovation and accountability.

Learn More.

CONTACT

Request More Information

Email us at id-academy@illinoistech.edu or complete the form for general questions or partnership inquiries.

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