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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Truth Trial

By Pranjal Shah | Jorge Martínez Arana | Nishanth Srikanth | Ran Konaka

May 11, 2023

Truth Trial
Truth Trial

The world where we collectively decide the truth through voting.

In our post-truth world, the line between facts and belief has become increasingly blurred. The proliferation of misinformation is rampant in our highly interconnected world. To distinguish fact from fiction, humanity turns to a post-human solution—an AI that discerns truth. This ushers in a new era of enhanced truthfulness, where the AI modifies history books, reports, and any references to past truths as new facts are uncovered. To combat the spread of misinformation, the AI asserts greater control over society. Individuals undergo screening and are assigned a “belief factor.” Those with higher factors assume more significant roles in society, as they are more likely to align with the AI and its notion of the “universal truth.” Every action and decision are meticulously tracked, shaping one’s societal position and safeguarding against external influence. Our project offers a glimpse into this future, highlighting its societal impact and the emerging trends surrounding facts, truth, and conspiracies in this new era. We present the advantages and drawbacks, urging people to contemplate the implications of adopting such a system and considering the consequences of the alternative.

Project Details

  • Class: Designing Futures
  • Instructor: Laura Forlano
Truth Trial

Truth Trial

Truth Trial

Truth Trial