Master of Design (MDes)
Master of Design (MDes)
Today’s rapidly changing world demands human creativity grounded in rigorous practice. At ID, you’ll learn to apply this powerful combination—expanding opportunities for yourself while making a difference in society.
ID is where human-centered design and systems design were pioneered. Home to the only US design school devoted exclusively to graduate study, our distinctly driven, collaborative community enjoys direct access to practice-oriented faculty. Start building your experience, portfolio, and resume in your very first semester.
Tomorrow’s leaders need a new skill set.
Complex global challenges require designers who can integrate perspectives, prototype solutions, and determine successful directions through rigorous critique.
ID’s MDes teaches you to navigate complexity with creative vision—cultivating strategic thinking and practical skills that open doors across industries, regardless of market conditions.
Why ID?
“I have the opportunity to really dig deep into systems and understand what needs to change and why it needs to change.”
—Faysal Biobaku (MDes 2024)
“If you’re considering design in general, ID is the place to be for thinking broadly and deeply about what design means.”
—Michael George (MDes + MBA 2025)
What Makes ID Special?
“I love the small intimacy you receive at ID.”
—Selena Burke (PhD 2025)
“I’m an international student, but I’ve never been in a room where there’s so many different nationalities, races, backgrounds.”
—Samantha Chandra (MDes 2025)
Why Did You Come to ID?
“I came to ID during a crossroads in my life where I wanted to figure out how to blend the skills that I’ve learned with the skills that I want.”
—Sai Allena (MDes + MBA 2024)
“There were so many large systemic problems that my background in architecture and structural engineering was not preparing me to solve.”
—Tera Delancy (MDes + MBA 2024)
Curriculum
Designed to see the previously impossible.
The MDes is a 2-year, full-time, 54-credit program with customizable study across three stages of study: Entry, Core, and Concentration. With students from diverse professional and academic backgrounds, the program allows you to shape your own educational focus.
At ID, you don’t take a professional pause—you build a portfolio through partnered projects, workshops, and real-world collaborations. You develop leadership and critical thinking skills through a constantly evolving curriculum that meets the needs of today’s learners, where you learn in community, with teams, through real-world scenarios.
These modules include the Foundation Sequence for students without formal design training, Fundamentals for students with minor educational gaps, and English + Design for those with limited English fluency.
These modules develop your critical competency for nearly any design practice. Core courses equip you to tackle complex challenges, explore creative possibilities, and build impactful solutions.
Concentration modules build application skills for specific design roles, including Design Research and Insight, Product-Service Delivery, and Innovation Strategy.
| yEar 1 | yEar 2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Spring | Summer | Fall | Spring |
| Design Course | Design Course | Internship (Optional) | Design Course | Design Course |
| Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | |
| Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | |
| Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | |
| Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | Design Course | |
Course Highlights
Dual Degrees & Certificates
ID was the first U.S. school to offer a dual MDes + MBA degree.
Combining a user-centered, method-based approach with core management education, the MDes + MBA is ideal for professionals who aspire to lead innovation within global organizations.
ID also pioneered the first MDes + Master of Public Administration program in the U.S.
Our MDes + MPA program prepares students to tackle pressing civic and social planning, from urban planning to policy implementation, through human-centered solutions that create meaningful public impact.
Public administration certificates offer MDes students an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of public policy and civic design.
Real Projects, Real Impact
Student work at ID goes beyond the classroom.
Through client partnerships and real-world scenarios, you’ll build the skills, connections, and portfolio that are critical in today’s evolving job market.
You’ll develop the technological literacy, creative thinking, and adaptability that The World Economic Forum identifies as most valuable to employers, while learning in community with teams and tackling the challenges that define your field.
Student Projects
View All ProjectsFaculty
Learn from Global Design Leaders
ID’s faculty are global leaders in human-centered design and applied design methods.
In addition to teaching, all full-time faculty engage in research initiatives where students can participate, applying classroom lessons to innovative problem-solving.
Careers
Create What's Next
Organizations need people who can tackle complex problems and create meaningful solutions.
ID graduates do exactly that—they become the strategists, innovators, and leaders who shape how businesses and communities work.
Students partner with top organizations starting their first semester—places like Amazon Web Services, UChicago Medicine, and the City of Chicago. You graduate with actual work experience, not just coursework.
Our 2,500+ alumni work at Apple, McKinsey & Company, Ford, Mayo Clinic, and other leading organizations across 32+ countries. These alumni hire ID students. They know the skills we teach and actively recruit from our programs.
Illinois Tech ranks #1 for Earnings in Illinois (Wall Street Journal, 2025) and #16 for Salary Impact in the U.S. (Wall Street Journal, 2024).
Learn more about ID’s career services.
Alumni Highlights
Costs
When Comparing Schools
When you’re weighing graduate programs, look beyond just tuition. Consider the cost of living in each city and how you’ll get around—these factors significantly impact your actual expenses.
ID’s location offers substantial savings, and our fee structure is notably more affordable than most institutions. While many schools charge around $2,000 per semester in fees, ID keeps fees to just $200 per semester.
Financial Assistance
All newly admitted MDes students are automatically considered for fellowships and scholarships, with early admissions considered first.
These merit-based awards are typically announced with your admission decision, eliminating uncertainty about your financial package.
Learn more about ID’s fellowships and scholarships.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (2024-2025 rate) | $25,488 (per semester 9-18 credits), $31,151 for English program per semester |
| Estimated class costs and supplies | $850 (per semester) |
| Estimated living expenses (room & board) | $8,250 (per semester) |
| Estimated health insurance | $2,070 (per year) |
STEM Qualification
The MDes qualifies as a STEM degree, which allows international students to apply for a 24-month extension to the typical 12-month optional practical training (OPT) period. This means students completing this degree may be eligible for up to three years of work in the US. Please see the US government’s website for more information.
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Apply
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Spring 2026 Admission
October 24, 2025 (final admission)
Fall 2026 Admission
December 1, 2025 (priority admission)
February 6, 2026 (final general admission)
Admission to the MDes program with the Foundation or English sequence is offered for the fall semester only.