Design is an essential skill for whole-brain engineers. Our view of design is broad: it extends seamlessly from research and product design to systems design and design of services, and it includes such areas as health care systems, financial products, and architecture.
Watch to Dean Ottino introduce design and whole-brain thinking to incoming students
Design thinking is a key pillar of right-brain thinking for engineers at Northwestern. Design thinking is the ability to see and solve the real problem behind the perceived problem. We teach our engineers to study the problem, frame the correct problem, ideate and prototype solutions, then meaningfully communicate the story and idea behind the solution.
We focus on human-centered design, taking a unified approach to problem solving that draws from the domains of engineering, social science, and psychology. Our collaborative research program brings together leading faculty and graduate students from across the University to advance design research. Our programs extend from project courses and certificates to degrees and graduate programs that focus on integrating design in all forms of human endeavor.
Design innovation empowers leaders to develop meaningful solutions, create new value, and envision new possibilities. At the highest level, design unlocks creativity and the ability to imagine a new future.
Julio M. Ottino, Dean, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Segal Design Institute
Segal Design Institute educates the next generation of design thinkers and leaders — people who are able to move across domains and industries, identify convergences, and create impact through the lens of human-centered design. It provides a variety of immersive, interdisciplinary programs for undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals that teach collaboration and leadership in design thinking.
Education
Innovative Course: Design Thinking and Communication
Our innovative Engineering First™ curriculum introduces first-year students to the fundamentals of a rigorous engineering education alongside practical applications and experiences that emphasize the power of communication.
In Design Thinking and Communication (DTC), students work on solving problems brought to them by community clients while strengthening communication skills so others can better understand and use the results. This two-course sequence puts students to work immediately, training them to distinguish the real issue behind a perceived problem. And as they gain proficiency in communicating, DTC students master design thinking, developing the problem-solving and presentation skills necessary to thrive in a competitive marketplace. DTC is extended beyond Northwestern Engineering to students throughout the University through the Design Thinking and Doing course. Students from a wide range of disciplines learn the key methods of design innovation and work in teams to apply those methods, explore ideas, and prototype solutions.
Design Thinking at All Levels
At both the graduate and undergraduate level, students work on projects that produce tangible results and improve the lives of people around the world. Segal’s team-based approach to education encourages students to use design thinking to solve complex, authentic problems in product, interaction, service, and business design.
Research
Northwestern Engineering conducts research that advances our knowledge of design innovation and human-centered design by:
- bringing together researchers, faculty, and students with diverse interests and backgrounds
- providing resources from multiple schools at Northwestern University
- driving toward greater understanding of specific concepts and topics in design
At the center of design research is the PhD Design Cluster. This multi-school cluster brings together dynamic faculty from the Segal Research Faculty Council and PhD students from a variety of disciplines.
Student Groups
Design for America
Design for America, founded at Northwestern, is a national network of campus studios where students work in interdisciplinary teams with local community partners to design solutions for social good. Teams work throughout the school year on projects that last anywhere between eight weeks to a year. Studios are supported by professional experts who provide mentorship, faculty members who connect students to university resources, and the DFA network which offers instruction and best practices. Students prepare for a future in the field of innovation, build lifelong friendships, and help change their communities for the better.