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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MS-SDL Courses

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MS-SDL Courses

MS-SDL (formerly MDM) coursework explores emerging innovation methods, market insight, and human-centered design while actively mixing theory and hands-on applications. A cohort of experienced students brings current issues into class discussions. Small class sizes facilitate frequent contact and collaboration among classmates and faculty members.

Design-Led Insights

Courses cover the essentials of design in businesses, focusing on innovation and design thinking. You’ll learn how to spot opportunities through research and dive deep into human-centered design principles.

Analysis + Synthesis
Principles & Methods of User Research
Modes of Human Experience
Evidence-Based Design
Behavioral Design

Strategic Innovation Methods

Courses explore real-world examples of successful innovations in various fields and learn how to view problems and solutions from a systems perspective.

Introduction to Systems Theory
Business Design
Innovation Frontiers
Metrics that Matter

Leadership and Activation

Courses cover how design and innovative ideas can lead to significant changes in organizations. You’ll learn how to boost the capacity of design and innovation, make ethical business decisions, and inspire your organization to take effective and impactful action.

Adaptive Leadership
Implementing Innovation
Strategic Communication
Shaping Digital Futures