Hands-On Design Projects
MaDE gives you hands-on project experience through each stage of product design and development, from the identification of unmet needs to the creation of concepts to engineering solutions and manufacturing at scale.
Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing & Design Engineering (MaDE)
Why Pursue a MaDE Degree?
View Student Projects
Capstone Experience
A signature feature of the MaDE program, the capstone design experience is a year-long white space challenge during which students invent and develop their own product.
Industry-Ready Skills
Our faculty are experienced product designers and developers, manufacturing engineers, and industry innovators, many of whom bring decades of real-world expertise into the classroom. With their mentorship, you’ll learn how to:
- Conduct qualitative research to discover unmet needs
- Apply statistical methods for testing mock-ups and prototypes
- Design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA)
- Understand material selection and its impact on sustainability
- Optimize supply chains and production costs
- Work with manufacturers and suppliers
- Take prototypes from product to production
SEE ABET OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES
Who Should Enroll?
MaDE is ideal for McCormick School of Engineering undergraduate students who want to:
- Combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving and hands-on prototyping
- Work on complex problems using multiple tools and disciplinary lenses
- Lead product development teams or have entrepreneurial aspirations
- Become comfortable working on teams and build project management and communication skills
- Make a tangible impact on people’s lives and the planet through innovative products
Career Paths
MaDE students have gone on to:
- Design home goods products at consumer brands such as Newell Brands, OXO, and P&G
- Lead innovation teams at aerospace and automotive industries
- Launch successful physical and digital product startups
- Drive sustainability initiatives at large and small companies
- Transform manufacturing processes at major organizations such as AbbVie, Accenture, Amazon, Baxter, Deloitte, EY, Ford Motor Company, McKinsey, McMaster-Carr, Meta, Milwaukee Tool, Rubbermaid, Tesla, P&G, Boeing, Pfizer, Shark, and Dyson.
MaDE Student Stories
Gastropops
A tasty artificial snail that helps inform conservation and restoration efforts.
Sno-Gro Boots
Children’s winter boots that can expand up to three sizes.
Admissions
Undergraduate admissions for the Segal Design Institute and the McCormick School of Engineering are handled by Northwestern University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. For information on how to apply, please visit the Undergraduate Admissions website.
Declaring the MaDE Major
If you are a current undergraduate student at the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University and wish to declare Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE) as your major, contact Professor David Gatchell, director of the MaDE program at d-gatchell@northwestern.edu.
Tuition
Please see the Northwestern undergraduate financial aid website for current information about tuition, fees, and expenses.
Contact Us
For more information about the MaDE program, please email the Director of the MaDE Program, Professor David Gatchell at d-gatchell@northwestern.edu.