The Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design or Industrial Design prepares designers to make substantive contributions that advance the profession and improve our world.
Focused on independent research projects, students explore a topic of inquiry with the potential to inform and shape disciplinary knowledge. Applicants from any background are welcome in the MDes program.
Students applying directly to the two-year program are expected to demonstrate a record of professional experience in design and to present a considerable and significant portfolio of work.
Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in design may be eligible for one year of prerequisite coursework, customized per student, in preparation for the two-year MDes sequence. Students who opt for this pathway into the program are typically seeking a career shift from relevant experience in a non-design field. These applicants are required to submit a standard two-year application designating a field of interest (Graphic Design or Industrial Design). The admissions committee will determine whether prerequisite coursework is necessary. While pursuing prerequisite coursework, students may confirm their choice of field or change based on evolving interests.