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.

institute
of desiGn
Search
Students

Lizzy Engele Selected as a “35 under 35” Honoree by Chicago Scholars

ID student selected as 1 of 35 leaders making an impact across Chicago

By Kristin Gecan

March 10, 2020

Lizzy Engele, MakerGirl

Lizzy Engele (MDes 2021), co-founder of MakerGirl, has been selected as a 2020 “35 Under 35” honoree by youth development organization Chicago Scholars, which recognizes diverse, talented young leaders in Chicago who are making a positive impact on their community.

Lizzy is a cofounder of MakerGirl, a nonprofit organization that encourages young girls to pursue education and involvement in STEM fields. MakerGirl brings its 3D printing to girls either via after-school programs at universities, or through #MakerGirlGoesMobile, a 3D printing pop-up truck that takes the MakerGirl experience to girls in rural and under-served areas with limited access to tech-based learning experiences.

“
We’re proud to recognize Elizabeth as one of 35 changemakers striving to make their communities a better place. Building upon her notable personal and professional accomplishments, such as being featured in the Forbes 30 under 30 2020 list, we are thrilled to see how she continues to make an impact on the city of Chicago.
—Dominique Jordan Turner, CEO of Chicago Scholars

Past 35 Under 35 honorees have included Kyle Hendricks, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs; Natalie Bookey-Baker, director of Chicago engagement strategy at the Obama Foundation; and Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block, My Hood, My City. The 2020 award winners will be officially recognized at Chicago Scholars’ UnTied Gala on Friday, April 24, 2020.

“
I’m humbled and honored to be able to represent my city for this prestigious award. We are all gifted with unique strengths, passions, and perspectives, and I’m using mine to create more MakerGirls—unstoppable forces that say ‘yes’ to the challenges of the future!

Learn more about Lizzy Engele and MakerGirl.

Related Stories

See All
Lizzy Engele, MakerGirl

Lizzy Engele: Bringing More Young Women into STEM

Renjie Li's UNLEASH team

ID students Tackle Sustainable Development Goals at UNLEASH

Composting in Durham, NC

Shannon Delaney is Moving Durham, NC to Action