It’s time we started a new dialog. Because today, industrial design is no longer just about new products. It’s about a new way of thinking. One that allows us to step back and question everything, including what a “product” is. By expanding our definition beyond the traditional – to encompass policies, social initiatives and entire systems – we’re setting the stage for design to play a crucial role in society. It’s already become an integral part of the business world’s approach to innovation. At UArts, we help prepare students for this dynamic, demanding new landscape.
It all begins with our cyclical design processThe MID program is built around the dialogues our students have with each other. With our faculty. With our guest speakers. And with our industry partners. By connecting these stakeholders through multi-year collaborations, we’re able to promote social and business innovation within a local context. This real-world interaction, unique to our program, encourages students to go beyond linear approaches to problem-solving. Teaching them to engage the design process in fresh ways in order to make a difference in the world.
The method.
Our goal is not to isolate and solve problems. It’s to connect issues – and to connect people – in order to fully understand the challenges we face in a broader context. Only then can we find innovative ways to inspire changes that are economically, ecologically and socially responsible. Supporting this triple-bottom line approach in order to pursue sustainability is a shared passion among MID faculty, students and partners. It all begins with our cyclical design process, which creates value as learning happens, as new knowledge is created. Allowing us to develop a body of research and theory that is comprehensive, cohesive and accessible to all stakeholders. But we don’t stop there. Once we’ve built a valuable knowledge base, we put it to work. Hosting hands-on workshops. Conducting design interventions. Modeling and prototyping concepts for evaluation. And iterating ideas based on the invaluable, real-time feedback we get working side-by-side with our partners.