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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Summer Coleman

Design Director | Severe Side Productions & Summer Coleman Design

Summer has seamlessly collaborated with a multitude of organizations and businesses in the dynamic city of Chicago. Whether curating the branding for prominent events like the Juneteenth Village Fest for the esteemed Village Leadership Academy or contributing to the success of the award-winning Bronzeville Winery in Bronzeville, her expertise spans diverse realms. From crafting and perfecting creative visuals to generating innovative concepts through collaborative brainstorming, Summer ensures that the final product not only meets but exceeds the high standards expected by clients or partners. Her meticulous attention to detail and boundless creativity consistently deliver outstanding results.

Summer Coleman is a session moderator for the Design as Activism Symposium.