Master of Design Methods

Ideal applicants for the MDM program have approximately 10 years (8 minimum) of professional experience, including experience in leadership positions. Most applicants find themselves charged with innovation initiatives, or are looking to build or expand innovation capacity within their organizations.

At ID, you’ll learn from faculty focused on the intersection of design and business. ID faculty are both scholars and business practitioners, and they bring their industry experience into the classroom.

Our part-time remote format allows you to take material from one evening’s class to work the next day. To complete the degree in nine months, a full-time sabbatical format is possible.

At the midpoint of your fall and spring semesters, you’ll be invited to MDM Immersions, 3-day in-person events.

During immersions, students come together in Chicago for an immersive exploration of contemporary topics. You’ll meet your peers and share experiences across multiple organizational contexts and challenges (for-profit, socially-oriented, entrepreneurial, and others) with faculty members and visiting experts.

Recent immersion topics include:

• Fall 2021: Design + AI
• Spring 2022: Design + Climate Change

ID alumni make up a strong network—a uniquely skilled set of more than 2,400 people across 32+ countries who deal with difficult issues and navigate them with clarity, purpose, and discipline. This vibrant network is invaluable to ID students and graduates.

In the past 15 years, over 175 students have earned the MDM degree and hold positions of influence at prestigious companies and design firms, such as Apple, Mayo Clinic, McKinsey, Steelcase and others.