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Northwestern University

Segal Design Certificate

Solve real problems for real people.

Segal Design Certificate

In the Segal Design Certificate program, you'll learn to apply design thinking and visual communication skills to a diverse set of real problems and people. Through hands-on, project-based courses, you'll build your understanding of human-centered design, including ideation, research, prototyping, and communication.

The certificate is open to any Northwestern undergraduate interested in applying design thinking to their future career.

Why Pursue a Design Certificate?

Certificate students work in team-based, transdisciplinary settings that challenge them to address a wide range of problems. By the end of the program, every student possesses a robust design portfolio — a valuable asset that will showcase their talents to potential employers and collaborators.

Projects

Certificate students engage in hands-on projects covering all aspects of the design process, from ideation to user testing and iteration. Two-quarter sequences allow for more in-depth exploration and project development.
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Portfolios

All certificate students develop portfolios that demonstrate effective use of the design process, prototypes, software and analytical tools, and visual communication of their work. 
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Certificate Student Stories

A sustainable alternative to single-use surgical devices

The healthcare sector in the US is responsible for nearly 10 percent of carbon emissions.

Certificate students designed a reusable trocar that could reduce waste produced during routine, minimally invasive surgeries.

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A tasty artificial snail

Populations of queen conch, a crucial species in coral reef and seagrass ecosystems, are declining.

A group of students designed a snackable shell, dubbed a "GastroPop," to help inform strategies for restoration and conservation.
Read more

Who Should Enroll?

Any Northwestern undergraduate interested in augmenting their education with a strong understanding of innovative design processes can pursue the Segal Design Certificate. 

Curriculum & Requirements

Students must be enrolled in a Northwestern bachelor's degree program to receive the Segal Design Certificate. Certificate students must take one prerequisite, three approved electives, one required design sequence, and the required design portfolio course.  

See curriculum and requirements

Advising

The certificate is highly customizable, and we advise students on an individual basis. Advising is by appointment. McCormick students should contact Stacy Benjamin. Non-McCormick Northwestern students should contact John Anderson.

How to Enroll

During their second or third year, students can use the McCormick Advising System (MAS) to declare the Segal Design Certificate. Northwestern students can log in to MAS with their NetID and password.

Receiving the Certificate

Progress towards the certificate is managed in MAS as part of a graduation audit. Students can monitor their progress online. Students receiving a non-McCormick Northwestern degree may still need a petition form for their degree program.

Contact Us

For more information about the Segal Design Certificate program, please email Stacy Benjamin (for students within McCormick) and email John Anderson (for students outside McCormick).

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