Denis Weil (MDes 2001) will end his term as Dean at IIT Institute of Design (ID) this calendar year. He has served as Dean since 2017, first teaching at ID in 2005. During his term as dean, Denis has set ID on the track for continued success, working with faculty, staff, and board members to shape an Institute-first strategy that will broaden ID’s impact for years to come.
His recent projects include presenting ID’s Lead with Purpose report at Salesforce Design Days and SXSW, contributing to 100 Great Designs of Modern Times in partnership with Fortune magazine, and expanding the teaching of civic design in ID’s graduate programs, including through a new dual-degree MDes + MPPA.
Having been involved in the design of everything from diapers to the fast food experience, Denis believes strongly in the importance of democratizing design, and that design can be of use to professionals across sectors and industries. He became dean after practicing design and innovation for more than 20 years, working with and for such organizations as McDonald’s, IDEO, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Share your messages and appreciation through a student-assembled Kudoboard. A farewell reception will take place on Friday, February 11, 5–7pm in the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship. Please RSVP here.
Heads to Israel Museum
Starting in March 2022, Denis will lead The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel’s foremost cultural institution, as its Anne and Jerome Fisher Director. Its 20-acre campus houses a wide-ranging collection of art and archaeology, including the world’s most comprehensive collection of the archaeology of the Holy Land, and the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls, the world’s oldest biblical manuscripts.
Anijo Mathew
Longtime faculty member serves as interim dean
Anijo Mathew will serve as ID’s interim Dean, effective January 1, 2022. Anijo has been a faculty member at ID for 11 years, having recently returned to ID after serving as Head of the Art and Design Department at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
A search for a new permanent dean will begin as soon as possible to ensure seamless transition and continuity of education.
