Illinois Tech - School of Design and Society

Illinois Tech - School of Design and Society Official account of Illinois Tech's School of Design and Society. Design, policy, media & social impact.

What if looking at a problem differently could change how you lead?The School of Design and Society’s M.S. in Strategic ...
09/10/2026

What if looking at a problem differently could change how you lead?

The School of Design and Society’s M.S. in Strategic Design Leadership brings together design, strategy and systems thinking to help professionals approach complex challenges in new ways.

The part-time program is designed for working professionals who want to bring design thinking into their current work and future career.

Interested in learning more? Explore the program: https://bit.ly/3SSMN0k

Rhea Shah (MDes ’25) had the technical skills to solve problems, but she kept asking herself: How will this actually wor...
09/08/2026

Rhea Shah (MDes ’25) had the technical skills to solve problems, but she kept asking herself: How will this actually work for people, and have we talked to the user yet?

Those questions led her to the School of Design and Society, where she found a new lens for approaching problems through social innovation, equitable design, and systems of care. Her work as a design researcher at the Equitable Healthcare Lab gave her the opportunity to put that thinking into practice, researching topics including power of attorney systems for young people and how designers approach pilot testing in health care.

Along the way, Rhea’s questions evolved. What once felt like obstacles to creating change became reasons to pursue it. Today, she is bringing her research background and design thinking skills together as an experience strategist at ZS, where she hopes to develop human-centered solutions to challenges in health care.

Her journey has always been fueled by curiosity, creativity and a desire to leave things better than she found them. Read Rhea’s full story to learn more about her journey and what’s ahead: https://bit.ly/3V8KOFT

What does quality design work look like at the School of Design?The 2026 Annual Collection offers one answer. This year’...
09/03/2026

What does quality design work look like at the School of Design?

The 2026 Annual Collection offers one answer. This year’s collection brings together 15 student projects selected by the School of Design faculty to highlight the range of approaches, disciplines and ideas explored by students throughout the year.

Each project highlights not only what was designed, but why it’s good, why it matters and how it responds to the people, environments and real-world constraints it was created for. Together, the projects show how students are using design to shape systems, experiences and organizations, with work extending beyond the classroom into hospitals, cities, research and industry.

Follow this link to learn more and to view the posters from this year’s student show: https://bit.ly/4gBf2sd

How do you design the future of work when the technology you’re exploring may not be implemented for another five to ten...
09/01/2026

How do you design the future of work when the technology you’re exploring may not be implemented for another five to ten years?

For Illinois Tech alum Anahita (Ana) Dasgupta (MDes 2023), that’s part of her work as an Employee Experience Researcher at United Airlines’ innovation lab. In a recent interview, Ana shares how she went from engineering to design research, how her experience shaped the way she approaches critical thinking and communication, and what she’s learning about bringing a human-centered perspective to emerging technology.

She also reflects on AI, navigating the job search, building connections with alumni, and her long-term goal of helping organizations make more human-centered decisions.

Read Ana’s story and learn more about her journey from engineering to designing how people work with emerging technology: https://id.iit.edu/story/anahita-dasgupta-employee-experience-researcher-united-airlines/

08/28/2026

And just like that… we’re in week two.

Join Jennifer deWinter, interim director of the School of Design and Society, and Carly Kourcek, Professor of Digital Hu...
08/25/2026

Join Jennifer deWinter, interim director of the School of Design and Society, and Carly Kourcek, Professor of Digital Humanities and Media Studies, on the Infinite Women podcast with host Allison Tyra. In this episode, they dive into the evolution of video games and the incredible women who’ve paved the way in the industry. Tune in now: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/infinite-women/episodes/Dr-Jennifer-deWinter-and-Dr-Carly-Kocurek-on-women-and-the-evolution-of-video-games-e2r36tf/a-abkqj5r

What started as a curiosity about the intersection of logic and creativity became a path toward real-world impact.After ...
08/20/2026

What started as a curiosity about the intersection of logic and creativity became a path toward real-world impact.
After earning his undergraduate degree in technical writing, Sai Allena (MDes + M.B.A. ’25) discovered design and design thinking while exploring his next steps in his native India. Drawn to the School of Design and Society’s human-centered approach and focus on social impact, he decided to continue his education at Illinois Tech.
At the School of Design and Society, Sai immersed himself in student organizations, design competitions, client projects, and the annual immersion program. These experiences helped him develop skills in creative problem-solving, communication, and turning theory into practice.
One client project with LatinX Digital Leaders Now gave Sai the opportunity to interview more than 30 students, parents, and industry leaders about creating more equitable pathways from the classroom to the boardroom. His team’s proposed expo was selected by the client and received a grant from the State of Illinois to move forward.
For Sai, the School of Design and Society provided more than a degree. It gave him the skills and experiences to turn ideas into action.
Read Sai’s full story: https://www.iit.edu/student-experience/student-and-alumni-stories/education-investment-future

Welcome back, School of Design and Society!A new semester is a new opportunity to learn, create, and push your ideas fur...
08/17/2026

Welcome back, School of Design and Society!
A new semester is a new opportunity to learn, create, and push your ideas further. Here’s to starting strong, pursuing excellence, and making this semester one to remember.
Let’s get started.

What if design could help us feel more connected?Stephanie Smith (MDes + MBA 2013) and designer and researcher Daniel Gl...
08/14/2026

What if design could help us feel more connected?
Stephanie Smith (MDes + MBA 2013) and designer and researcher Daniel Gloyd are exploring that question through Designing for Warmth, a framework centered on connection, belonging, and creating experiences where people feel seen and heard.
Their work challenges designers to think beyond individual user experiences and consider how the systems, spaces, and technologies we create shape our relationships with one another. These ideas will come to life at ZX 26, a design retreat co-organized by Stephanie and Daniel that explores a new lens on UX and what it means to design for a more connected future.
Read the full story: https://id.iit.edu/story/designing-for-warmth/

Big career moves often begin with one question: What kind of impact do I want to make? Kevin Yamada (MDes '22) found his...
08/11/2026

Big career moves often begin with one question: What kind of impact do I want to make? Kevin Yamada (MDes '22) found his answer through design.
After overcoming a life-changing childhood injury, Kevin Yamada (MDes '22) became a national para track and field record holder before building a thriving career in international business. Despite that success, he realized the work lacked a human-centered perspective.
He made the bold decision to leave a lucrative corporate position, pursue design studies in Chicago, and redefine what meaningful innovation could look like. Today, as managing partner and strategic designer at BIOTOPE, he helps organizations create solutions that better serve people while advancing systemic design across Japan.
His journey is a reminder that meaningful innovation begins by understanding the people you're designing for.
Read the full story: https://bit.ly/3RVB94k

Address

School Of Design And Society, 3137 S Federal Street
Chicago, IL
60616

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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