Engineering Design Innovationat the SEGAL DESIGN INSTITUTE, McCORMICK SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Ibrahima's decision to pursue EDI stems from his undergraduate experience, where he pursued the Segal Design Certificate at Northwestern University. Through various design classes and projects, he found himself both challenged and motivated to produce tangible results. The stimulating environment fueled his passion for design. The Ford building, equipped with all the necessary tools and resources, seems like the perfect place to cultivate his skills and pursue a career in product design. The balance between research, computer work, and hands-on building and iteration offered by the Northwestern EDI program resonates with his preferences, making it the ideal choice for him.

Experience before EDI: BS, Industrial Engineering, Northwestern University. OMS Intern at L’Oreal; Engineering Intern at LAM Research.

Sam chose to pursue the EDI program because it aligns with her passion for people and product creation. Having worked as a teacher, orientation leader, and improv comedy enthusiast, Sam has always been deeply connected to human interaction and communication. These experiences have fueled her interest in psychology and the potential to design products and services that benefit people and industries. Sam's current experience is very technical. She hopes to not only expand out into the design world but also take advantage of the flexible elective options by diving even deeper into other avenues of engineering she has yet to venture into.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineer, Northeastern University. Innovation Engineer at New Balance. 

One aspect that drew Johnny to the EDI program was the ability to choose areas of interest such as healthcare, consumer products, and physical product design. Through these specializations, coupled with the hands-on nature of the curriculum, Johnny believes that EDI will enable him to refine his technical skills, test his designs in real-life scenarios, and prepare him for the challenges of launching and managing a successful business in the competitive field of healthcare technology.

Experience before EDI: BS, Business Administration (Entrepreneurship and Innovation), University of Southern California. Associate Product Manager at HiLink.

Tiffany chose the EDI program due to the close-knit nature of the cohort and the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of hands-on experiences in human-centered design.

Experience before EDI: BFA, Illustration and minor in Graphic Design, Parsons School of Design.

Eva's goal is to bridge the gap between technology and design, crafting solutions that are both robust and user-friendly. She envisions a future where her work contributes to more seamless, accessible, and inclusive technologies. She believes that the best designs emerge from a genuine understanding of and connection with the people they serve.

Experience before EDI: BS, Interactive Design, James Madison University. Lead UI Designer and Founding Member at ElevraAI; Product Development Intern at BSI. 

Josh has built a strong base of skills in both engineering and design in his work as an engineering professional, startup product designer, and as a freelance graphic designer. At his core, the synthesis of a design and facilitation of this process is what Josh finds the most rewarding. He is excited for the opportunity to work on human-centered design challenges within the EDI course framework. Josh hopes to combine his engineering and design skills with the design research and project management skills he will learn through EDI, allowing him to break into roles which enable him to facilitate product development.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineering, BS, Creative Technology & Design, and Certificate in Engineering Leadership, University of Colorado. Mechanical Engineer at Boulder iQ and Boulder Sterilization; Product Engineer at MODL Outdoors.

Lauren chose to pursue human-centered design through the EDI program because of her passion for creating. Her favorite part about pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering was working with others to discuss ideas, make prototypes, and experience those breakthrough moments on projects. Lauren aims to continue building on those experiences to learn more about human-centered design principles in action. The program’s studio culture provides hands-on challenges in the intensely collaborative environment that she thrives in.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh.

Rachel is driven to explore innovative and tangible approaches to human-technology interactions. At EDI, Rachel looks forward to further developing her technical skills and mastering all the tools in the Shop, collaborating and learning from the diverse cohort, and emerging as a T-shaped hybrid design practitioner.

Experience before EDI: BA, Data Science, University of California, Berkeley.

Jack chose to study EDI as a way to use his passion for engineering to drive positive change. By leading with interdisciplinary teams, Jack hopes to combine his formal skills with his many interests to create innovations that solve people’s biggest problems. Jack is also energized by human connection and will take any opportunity to meet new people and learn about their problems and aspirations. Jack believes that with EDI, this energizing activity is transformed into a career. By developing skills in design research, Jack is driven to be immersed in the problem focused spaces in order to build a truly empathetic design methodology.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Marquette University. Mechanical Engineer at Brooks Stevens Inc.

Xinran realized from her previous experiences that more training in technology, specifically computer science, is essential. She believes that excellent, genuinely human-centered designs require a deeper understanding and adept application of technology, and the potential of technology is fully realized through elegant design. Through EDI, Xinran believes she can become a competent interaction designer, using her skills to create more inclusive experiences for users while focusing on the intersection of design and social impact.

Experience before EDI: BA, Psychology & BOD, Human-Computer Interaction, University of Washington.

Phoenix chose EDI because he believes that the program has a inclusive and welcoming culture that encourages people to pursue their passion, and has strong resources and professional connections. Phoenix has a particular passion in design and enjoys the process of addressing people's pain points and converting them into new design products. He believes joining the EDI can help him best achieve his goals and aspirations.

Experience before EDI: BFA, Industrial Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

There are many different voices that exist in the world who believe that some technologies and/or products are not designed for one to easily interact with. Ann aspires to curate designs to become more approachable, accessible, and convenient and was drawn to the EDI program due to its interdisciplinary nature and strong focus on the human element. Ann is excited to learn from others in her cohort and collaborate with them on various projects.

Experience before EDI: B.Arch, Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology with minors in Business Administration, Human-Computer Interaction, and Design for Learning, Carnegie Mellon University. Product Intern at Whisper Aero.

Susan decided to pursue the field of human-centered design because it seamlessly combines her passion for creativity with her desire to make a meaningful impact on people's lives. She chose the EDI program because of its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and its holistic approach to design. The program's focus on combining engineering, design, and business perspectives aligns perfectly with Susan’s career goals. She is particularly excited about the opportunity to work on real-world projects and engage with industry leaders; she believes this will significantly enhance her skills and broaden her understanding of the impact of design.

Experience before EDI: BDes, Design with an additional major in Human-Computer Interaction, Carnegie Mellon University.

Riley felt that the EDI program wholeheartedly captured her spirit for design. She believes that the program’s human-centered approach differentiates it from other academic design programs, and truly inspires the next generation of design engineers. Riley was drawn to the program’s wide variety of human-centered design opportunities and the program felt like home the moment she learnt about it.

Riley’s previous experience designing airline seating and improving vehicle safety helped spark her love for creating for people. She is energized to expand her knowledge in design and make the world a better place one compassionate design decision at a time.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Design, Pennsylvania State University. Industrial Equipment Engineer at Parker LORD Corporation; NSF REU Student at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Center for Injury Research and Prevention.

May chose to pursue EDI because it combines innovative problem-solving with human-centered design in a versatile way. During her undergraduate studies and work experience, she developed interests in designing for social impact and healthcare which rely on human-centered design to achieve meaningful results. She is excited about the EDI program as it merges her interests and allows her to enhance them through collaborative and hands-on learning.

Experience before EDI: BFA, Graphic Design, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. UX Designer at AbbVie.

In his evolution as a designer, Jack grew to recognize the potential of design beyond aesthetics. His exploration of Web and UX Design introduced him to the concept of human-centered design and its potential to address critical issues in technology. Jack decided to pursue EDI due to the interdisciplinary nature of the curriculum. He believes that learning from different perspectives will allow him to become a better communicator and designer. Jack is keen on learning more about entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation.

Experience before EDI: BS, Graphic Design, University at Buffalo. Design Intern at MoneyLion; Product Designer at 9 Earth LLC. 

Ramya chose the EDI program for its unique combination of design and engineering, which aligns perfectly with her passion for creating user-centric, inclusive solutions. She values EDI’s project-based learning and collaborative environment, where she can tackle real-world challenges alongside a diverse community. Influenced by her personal experiences, Ramya is committed to making design accessible and believes the EDI program will help her refine her skills and approach, empowering her to drive impactful, human-centered design.

Experience before EDI: BS, Computational Media, Georgia Institute of Technology. Human Interface Design Intern at Apple.

For Isabel, the EDI program is a unique opportunity to dive deep into the fascinating intersection of engineering, design, and innovation, providing the space and resources to explore and bring ideas to life every step of the way.

Experience before EDI: Bachelor´s in Mechatronics Engineering, Tecnológico de Monterrey.

The EDI program’s strong emphasis on innovation and using design to make the world a better place resonates deeply with Z’s own values and aspirations; he is motivated to push the boundaries of traditional design practices. After completing 5 years of design studies and experiences, Z’s next step will be to deepen his skills in product design with a human-centered approach, while broadening his understanding of sustainability and entrepreneurship.

Experience before EDI: BS, Product Design, ArtCenter College of Design.

Krishna's previous experiences as a software engineer in tech, healthcare and e-commerce spaces showed him the significance of UX design and research. The EDI program was a natural choice for him because its interdisciplinary nature allowed him to complement his engineering background with design and entrepreneurship learning. The small cohort size, industry focus and application oriented curriculum further drew him to the program.

Experience before EDI: BS, Computer Science, Purdue University. Product Manager and Software Engineer at NectarOM.

Jimmia's interest in crafting digital experiences stems from her past experience working behind the scenes of theatrical productions in high school. In college, this love translated into an interest to learn more about the world of human-centered design; an internship at IBM later solidified her interest in a design research focused Ccreer. Jimmia's goal is to utilize the knowledge she obtains from EDI to further refine her skills in design research to help her continue crafting products that spark joy for others.

Experience before EDI: BS, Informatics & BSA, Human Ecology, University of Texas at Austin. UX Research Intern at IBM.

Hao's journey in design has been driven by a pursuit of innovative, user-centered solutions. Highlighting the importance of innovative design and user-centric methodologies, Hao is drawn to EDI's focus on developing T-shaped designers—those who excel in one area while exploring other domains.

Experience before EDI: BA, Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts, University of California, San Diego.

Siyu is drawn to EDI for its emphasis on human-centered design, which aligns with his experience and philosophy in industrial design. He values EDI's project-based learning experience and collaboration with companies, which allows him to solve problems in real-world scenarios. EDI's studio culture and focus on teamwork also appeal to him. Siyu looks forward to bringing his creativity to EDI.

Experience before EDI: BID, Industrial and Product Design, Pratt Institute. Next Business & Design Intern at American Honda Motor Company.

Having majored in mechanical engineering during his undergraduate studies, Sihan spent significant time on machine and software design. This experience sparked his interest in understanding how 'human-centered' principles should be integrated into all future designs. Sihan believes that studying a broad engineering discipline will provide a comprehensive understanding of the engineering industry. This holistic approach will enable him to excel not only as an engineer and designer but also as a manager, balancing technical expertise with leadership skills.

Experience before EDI: BS, Mechanical Engineering, Boston University.

After graduating and working as a full-time UX designer, Patrick realized there was a gap between his work and the impact he wanted to make. He's now actively seeking to refine his design scope in the areas of product design and user experience design to create the most social impact.

Experience before EDI: B.A. Communication Design, Washington University in St. Louis
(2nd Major: Supply Chain Management and Minor in East Asian Studies)

Aditya pursued human-centered design to move beyond data analytics and focus on the people behind the metrics. Drawn to EDI’s hands-on, experiential approach, he hopes to build meaningful products by directly engaging with users and applying his empathy to the design process.

Experience before EDI: MS, Biological Science, BITS PilaniBTech, Civil Engineering, BITS Pilani 

Morana was drawn to EDI for its focus on community, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary learning that bridges technical problem-solving with real human needs. She hopes to refine her design and engineering skills while becoming a more thoughtful, capable leader who drives meaningful, human-centered innovation.

Experience before EDI: BS, Engineering Science, Smith College

Tate saw EDI as an opportunity to combine his engineering background with his passion for human-centered design while learning alongside other professionals. Drawing on his experience in coffee product development, he hopes to deepen his understanding of the design process and collaborate with innovators shaping the future of thoughtful, user-focused design.

Experience before EDI: BS, Computer Engineering, University of Michigan