Class of 2016 graduates from EDI Program
Segal Design Institute proudly celebrated the newest graduates from our Master of Science Program in Engineering Design Innovation.
The students participated in the Master's Degree Recognition and PhD Hooding Ceremony that was part of the Winter Commencement hosted by the McCormick School of Engineering on Saturday, December 10, 2016. (Please visit this page on graduation day for a video recording of the ceremony.)
The ceremony in the Ryan Family Auditorium in the Technological Institute included a speech by Dennis Chookaszian, former chairman and CEO of CNA Insurance Companies and a Northwestern University alumnus. Afterwards, the EDI graduates and their families returned to the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center for a luncheon with faculty and staff from the Segal Design Institute.
Amy O'Keefe, the Associate Director of the Master of Science in EDI program, and Ed Colgate, Director of the Master of Science in EDI program, recognized each member of the cohort individually with memories and reflections about their experience in the program.
"EDI ’16 is a really special group of people," said O'Keefe. "Each student in the cohort generously shares the depth and breadth of their individual talents to support and accelerate their peers’ learning. I have enjoyed seeing the quality of their team and individual project work soar as they’ve evolved into a high-functioning team. We’re delighted to see them embark on new challenges in design innovation."
The graduates are headed in many different directions now that they are leaving Northwestern. During the EDI program, the students learned how to address design problems using a human-centered approach. Amelia Fish, a mechanical engineer who came to Northwestern after three years working at Air Products & Chemicals, will apply what she learned to her next role at 3M.
"My favorite part of EDI has been developing a solid understanding of the why, rather than just the how in my approach to solving engineering and design challenges. I will be heading to 3M in Minneapolis after EDI, where I will be working as a senior user experience designer for their Healthcare business," Fish said. "I am looking forward to bring a human-centered perspective to their efforts in using digital products and connected devices to improve the healthcare industry."
Her classmate, Georgios Skoufalos, will also be putting human-centered design to use in his next step after graduation. "After EDI, I will be joining Google X as a Research Associate in understanding how new technologies can support people's lives," Skoufalos said. He came to the EDI program with a BS in mechanical engineering and having spent two summer rotations working for Toyota Motors.
Over the course of fifteen months, the EDI program introduces students to design thinking - an innovative process of user observation, visualization, rapid prototyping, and iteration. However, students find that the most valuable part of the program actually comes from the people in the program.
"My favorite part of EDI was the close support of both my peers and the all-star faculty," explained Skoufalos.
Ray Chen, another graduate of the EDI program and a mechanical engineer by training, agreed with him. "My favorite part of EDI was definitely the people," said Chen. "I really enjoyed working with my classmates and professors. Everyone was very positive and collaborative!"
Chen will join Lenovo in North Carolina, working in their the Hardware UX group.
While the 2016 graduates of the EDI program are moving on to new chapters in their careers, their experience here at Northwestern will remain an integral part of their journeys as design innovators. Claire McCloskey, another member of the EDI '16 cohort, summed up what the group was feeling on graduation day.
"I couldn't ask for anything more than learning from industry professionals and learning from my talented peers. I will certainly miss this one-of-a-kind EDI family," said McCloskey. McCloskey graduated from Northwestern with a B.S. in Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE), which provided her with a background in product design and development and then earned a place in the EDI program.