Lead the next digital transformation
Solve systemic societal issues by designing innovative digital products with meaningful impact in the two-year, STEMdesignated Master of Design for Human-Computer Interaction and Emerging Technology at WashU.
Embedded in a tier-one research university, our MDes program empowers students to collaborate with researchers campus-wide, forging the future of socially impactful digital innovations. Gain not only the technical prowess to craft elegant products and experiences, but also critical research perspectives to contextualize their impact, and the collaborative leadership skills vital to be an industry leader in this next phase of digital transformation. Graduates will be positioned to take their careers to the next level leading design teams as senior UX designers, senior product designers, entrepreneurs, members of startups, or academics—ready to tackle the societal challenges that matter most.
[60] credits / [04] semesters / full-residency
Core Faculty
Jonathan Hanahan
Chair, MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology; Associate Professor, Sam Fox School
Research interests: alternative and ambient interfaces
Caitlin Kelleher
Professor, McKelvey Engineering
Research interests: user-centered design and evaluation
Alvitta Ottley
Associate Professor, McKelvey Engineering
Research interests: personalized and adaptive visualization systems
Penina Acayo Laker
Associate Professor, Sam Fox School
Research interests: communication design and systemic issues in public health and racial equity
Ian
Bogost
Barbara and David Thomas
Distinguished Professor in Arts & Sciences and Professor of Computer Science & Engineering
Research interests: philosophy, computation, game design
Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes robust product design and development skills in parallel with critical thinking, speculation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. A two-year, continuous studio mirrors real-world industry timelines.
[40%] collaborative research
[30%] design, engineering, and technology studies
[15%] history, ethics, and leadership [15%] electives
Ix3 Studio
In the Ix3 Studio (Interaction, Innovation, and Impact), the foundation of the MDes curriculum, students conduct user research and develop end-to-end design solutions over the four semesters of the program. The studio partners with existing programs at WashU and in St. Louis seeking socially innovative and impactful digital experiences, tasking students with proposing solutions that elegantly address complex problems in fields like medicine, engineering, public health, urban design, and more.
FAQs
What will I be producing each semester?
Each semester, students will produce a range of individual and collaborative work, including research documents, digital and physical prototypes, quantitative and qualitative usability analysis, and more. Individual courses all support research in the Ix3 Studio, the backbone of our program. Each class isolates a specific skill or perspective that is synthesized in the studio.
What are graduate outcomes? Potential jobs, post-graduate work, post-graduate fellowship opportunities?
We collaborated with industry partners to design a program that would capitalize on the needs of innovative companies and organizations. Students who graduate from the MDes program are well positioned to take on industry design positions at elevated levels, become or expand current skills as entrepreneurs, work on or develop a start-up team, or find academic positions in this expanding field.
Are scholarships and financial aid available?
Scholarships are available. 94% of Sam Fox School graduate students received financial aid in 2023-24. MDes students also have opportunities to work as paid teaching assistants or research assistants, work on the shop crew, in the print labs, or in the digital fabrication lab.
What career services are available for my internship and career aspirations?
Our full-time, in-house career services advisors work with students throughout their educational journey and beyond. They assist with resumes, portfolios, internship and job placements. They are experts in art, architecture, and design careers as they come from these backgrounds.
“The MDes program sets itself apart through its intrinsic understanding of the interconnectedness and dynamism of this field. By leveraging multiple schools across campus, graduates will gain a depth and breadth of experiences in tactics, strategy, and societal context—a combination unrivaled in the current academic landscape. This program isn’t for those who want to fit a mold. It’s for those looking to forge their own paths to
Will Bates, BFA ’09, Senior Staff UX Manager, YouTube
