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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Back to Basics

By Ankita Kamble

May 11, 2023

Back to basics for Subway

Subway has garnered a significant share in the market of individuals seeking nutritional and swift meal options, while also incorporating cultural variety in their international locations. Although their primary focus remains on delivering fresh, made-to-order sandwiches across all locations, the standardized menu they use may not always capture the local essence and taste preferences.
In order to enhance their understanding of customer needs, Subway requires assistance in comprehending what food options resonate with them, and how they can tailor their existing sandwich offerings to a more diverse international audience. This communication piece is based on qualitative interviews conducted with a group of mothers highlighting their ongoing struggles in creating a wholesome food atmosphere. The objective of this communication is to aid Subway’s efforts in promoting healthy and varied local gastronomical options, in support of mothers seeking to build a positive nourishment culture.

Project Details

  • Class: Strategic Communication
  • Instructor: Ruth Schmidt