As a complement to the studio course (GRID 603), this course helps to develop the skills and methods required to realize successful design projects. Put into practice, these "tools" enable and support a design process that is increasingly shared with other disciplines, facilitates collective learning, and produces actionable strategies for change. Special emphasis is placed on participant field research, system mapping, the development of design-oriented scenarios and the ability to communicate design thinking and concepts in a clear and compelling way. Content for the coursework comes directly from the studio projects.

A seminar devoted to examining the shift in cultural, technological, material, and professional landscapes that a graduate design candidate must navigate. Through readings, presentations, and discussions, students explore how these evolved contexts are changing whole systems as well as their individual stakeholders. Special emphasis is placed on developing key concepts and ideas to engage sustainable practice and drive change through design. The seminar works in parallel with the Design Studio I course; topics and themes covered in the seminar are germane to studio projects.

This design studio offers the opportunity to launch individual or group design projects that are not connected to the on-going industry partnerships. Projects are framed through critical issues and take into consideration personal interests of the individual student. The primary goal of this course is to increasingly strengthen the student's ability to engage and advance critical issues through demonstrating and testing design concepts that can lead to products, systems and/or services. Students will be able to gauge their personal strengths and weaknesses, and orient/position themselves for the subsequent summer internship.

As a compliment to the Design Studio 2 course, this course builds on the introduction to the design process, it's tools and methods, to further develop the skills and methods in GRID 604 in the previous semester. The course further develops field research methods and principles (e.g. Universal Design, Human Factors) and refines mapping, modeling and presentation techniques. This course also supports students' portfolio development and self-promotion in order to secure an appropriate internship for the summer.

The major multidisciplinary studio where design ideology, process, development, and production are emphasized through a collaboration with one of MIDs strategic industry partners. Project teams will combine first and second year students. First year students will be introduced to the MID design culture and second year students will have the opportunity to further improve their abilities to apply the design process while acting in a leadership role. Issues discussed and studied are: learning the design process informed by applied design research, communicated through clearly designed information, and driven by collaborative design development. The design process considers above issues in the formulation of a design program; conceptual abstract studies; physical and material investigations; simulated and physical representation; and the application of manufacturing. Specific design skill sets covered in GRID 604, Design Methods, complement this studio's projects.

Building on the design methods classes offered during the first year, this laboratory offers a series of tutorials in order to round out students’ particular skill sets. This course will further support professional networking through development of students’ portfolio websites and other outreach projects.

A tutorial providing the opportunity for individual candidates to shape and present the outcome of their programs of study in a manner that directly reflects their career objectives. Projects may be carried out independently, under industry sponsorship, or as part of a research project, based on a plan produced and approved through the thesis director.