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

Luce James

Design Strategist | Ascendant

Luce is a UK-born designer with a Master of Design from the Institute of Design in Chicago, specializing in social innovation, civic design, and design strategy. Their work focuses on breaking down systemic barriers and promoting inclusivity across urban environments. Luce co-led a project with the Chicago BIPOC community and the Forest Preserve of Cook County to create anti-racist pathways to nature, ensuring equitable access to green spaces. This reflects their deep commitment to dismantling inequities and fostering inclusive civic spaces.

Through their work as a design strategist at Ascendant, Luce has developed key skills to execute complex projects effectively. Across all projects, Luce employs human-centered design and problem-solving to create inclusive, effective policies that enhance civic engagement. Outside of their professional work, Luce is an illustrator and co-founder of Bizarre Bazaar, an inclusive makers market in Chicago. They are passionate about using design as a tool for facilitation, empowering communities to shape their own futures. Through their efforts, Luce consistently advocates for representation and inclusivity, believing that design can drive positive change and build a more equitable world.

Luce James is a session presenter for the Design as Activism Symposium.