Societal innovation starts with
PEOPLE.
We educate the creative explorers of the future, focusing on the interconnectedness of technology, humans, and the natural world. Our students turn ideas into reality, centering people in complex challenges that have local and global consequences.
Design Innovation is about
mindset, process, and tools.
News and Events
Keep up-to-date with our latest news stories and explore our upcoming events.
Recent News
Building a Bias to Act
from the Engineering Design Innovation (EDI) program
Soaring Startups
from the MMM Program
Trust Builders
from the Master of Product Design and Development Management (mpd²) program
Events
Design Thinking & Communication (DTC) Expo
December 6
9:30 AM
Farley Finals Fuel-Up
December 8
9:00 AM
Farley Finals Fuel-Up
December 9
9:00 AM
Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Recognition Ceremony
December 13
4:00 PM
Human-Centered Design Projects
At both the graduate and undergraduate level, our students work on projects that produce tangible results and improve the lives of people around the world. Our team-based approach to education encourages students to use design thinking together to solve complex, authentic problems in product, interaction, service, and business design.
GastroPops
A tasty artificial snail made from ground oyster shells and a seafood blend.
Queen conch, an important food source for marine animals, are listed as threatened due to overfishing, predation. and habitat loss from climate change.
The Gastropop snail aims to help inform restoration and conservation efforts — without exacerbating already threatened food sources.
Sno-Gro Boots
Children’s winter boots that can expand up to three sizes.
Many families face the recurring expense of buying new winter boots for growing children each year.
This project, called Sno-Gro Boots, aims to create footwear that lasts for more than just one season, addressing both economic and environmental concerns.
Taking on Food Insecurity
EDI students designed new ways for Feeding America to get food into the hands of those who need it most.
Feeding America charged students to create new strategies to rescue foods from retail and bring those goods into the Feeding America ecosystem.
Students tested ideas in the marketplace by visiting food banks, retail store, and various public venues to gather firsthand feedback.
Who we work with
What we teach
The interdisciplinary academic programs at the Segal Design Institute provide undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on, project-based curricula, integrating creative problem-solving into a variety of domains. Explore our opportunities to find a program that best fits your goals.
Undergraduate Study
Whether you're looking to take a single design course or earn your bachelor's degree or certificate in design, Segal provides a wide range of exciting opportunities for undergraduates.
Master's Graduate Study
Discover the right program to position yourself for the next step in your career in industry, research, or academia.
PhD Graduate Study
We do not offer a PhD program, but we're part of a larger ecosystem of centers and labs pursuing design-related academic research at Northwestern. PhD students interested in design-related research can explore the Design Research Cluster, an interdisciplinary doctoral program sponsored by the McCormick School of Engineering and The Graduate School at Northwestern.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF
Design Innovation
Design innovation creates value using design-centric tools and frameworks such as empathy, visualization, prototyping, and iteration. By acquiring design innovation skills, we are prepared to find and frame problems, identify opportunities, and innovate across a variety of spaces. We are ready to bring our ideas to life.
Learn more about Design Innovation