Master of Design (MDes)

The Master of Design (MDes) is a 2-year full-time program at University of Washington that engages with design through practice-based creative research. The first year involves three graduate studios and three graduate seminars, as well as elective courses. The second year is focused on the thesis, an independent research project where students work closely with their thesis chair (a member of the design faculty) and committee. Throughout the course of the program, we follow three core principles: Making is our main way of thinking. We value critical, practice-based creative research. Design theory, research, and craft work hand in hand in exploring and pushing the boundaries of design knowledge. We see design as a tool to respond to the new social, economical, ethical, and environmental realities of the 21st century. As a result of these three principles, we focus on how design works at the intersection of three main areas of interest: Craft and Making, Theory and Research, and Innovation. The MDes courses, thesis projects, and independent studies converge in a space of practice-based creative research. We encourage students to use design as a creative mode for conducting research, innovating, developing new knowledge, and contributing to the field of design. Our faculty has expertise in professional practice as well as academic research, and everything in between.

Have completed a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; A 3.0 GPA for the last 90 quarter credit hours (or last 60 semester credit hours); The GRE is not required.