Design Thinking & Communication
A required two-quarter course for engineering students.
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Design Thinking & Communication
DSGN 106: Work on real design problems submitted by individuals, non-profits, entrepreneurs, and industry members.
There are a variety of ways for a Northwestern student to study design with the Segal Design Institute.
Northwestern students in good standing may choose to take a design course without being enrolled in one of our programs (which include MaDE and the Segal Design Certificate). This flexibility provides the opportunity to explore an interest in design without committing to an entire program of study.
There are three levels of design courses available through the Segal Design Institute for Northwestern undergraduate students: Introduction to Human-Centered Design Courses, Core Design Courses, and Capstone Design Courses (detailed below).
In addition to the courses listed below, Segal Design Institute offers many other courses. Many of our undergraduate courses are available to Northwestern students as space permits. Graduate courses give priority to students within a Segal Design Institute graduate program. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis. Please view the course listing table for additional information.
A student may also to pursue a combination of courses in order to complete the requirements for the Segal Design Certificate. For more details about the Segal Design Certificate, please visit here.
Students interested in additional design education might also consider applying to our Engineering Design and Innovation (EDI) master's degree program.
A required two-quarter course for engineering students.
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DSGN 106: Work on real design problems submitted by individuals, non-profits, entrepreneurs, and industry members.
A hands-on studio course for non-engineering students.
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DSGN 208: Students will learn key methods of design thinking and will work in teams to apply those methods, designing a variety of solutions to a common, challenging problem.
This is a project-based course about service design.
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DSGN 305: Apply the design process to address people’s needs for connectedness, belonging, and autonomy.
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Apply the design process to create compelling user experiences.
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DSGN 306: Students will explore everything from screen-based experiences to interactions with physical products and environment design.
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Learn how to ensure that products meet the needs of users.
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DSGN 308: It is recommended (but not required) that you complete this course before enrolling in DSGN 395: Service Design Studio.
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Explore concepts visually through design sketching.
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DSGN 320: We will work in a studio culture involving a fast-paced work environment, peer-review, and an opportunity to learn from a wide variety of resources.
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Explore visualization methods while honing your voice in design.
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DSGN 380-1: This studio course will introduce students to projects that will lay the foundation for a bias toward action.
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This course emphasizes on portfolio development.
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DSGN 380-2: This is a continuation of DSGN 380-1 Industrial Design Projects I. Students will dive deeper into the project begun in that course.
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Student teams work on interdisciplinary projects.
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DSGN 384-1: The first quarter emphasizes project research, concept development, and professional communication.
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This course focuses on project implementation.
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DSGN 384-2: Students are expected to apply the discipline-specific knowledge from their upper-level engineering courses.
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Students apply design thinking to a client project.
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DSGN 382-1: Course may include experiences plans, digital interface designs, communication models, and brand tonality deliverables.
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Students continue to work on a client project.
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DSGN 382-2: Course may include experiences plans, digital interface designs, communication models, and brand tonality deliverables.
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Explore how to find a career and life you love.
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DSGN 300: The course includes seminar-style discussions, role-playing, short writing assignments, hands-on making, guest speakers, and individual mentoring and coaching.
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Take an free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) and earn a certificate.
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No cost online courses for students, faculty, and staff.
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If you have questions about which of our courses might be right for you, please email our curriculum support staff.