The Division of Design promotes a collaborative, diverse, and pragmatic approach to design that prepares our students to thrive and lead in a world of rapid technological and cultural change. Students learn the methods and craft to create innovative products, services, and communications to address society’s most pressing issues. UW Design students, alumni and faculty work in various industries including improving environmental sustainability, access to education, access to effective and affordable healthcare, and advancing economic and social justice.
Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Design (BDes), Industrial Design
Bachelor of Design (BDes), Interaction Design
Bachelor of Design (BDes), Visual Communication Design
Graduate Program
At UW Design...
Making is our main way of thinking.
We value critical, practice-based creative research. Our classes are a lot of making, and then talking about what we make. The program will help develop valuable form-giving skills to not only make products and objects that get used by real people in the real world, but also critical language and thinking to understand the impacts and tradeoffs of design decisions.
Design theory, research, and craft work hand-in-hand.
Our faculty represent a unique blend between professional practice and academic research. The program pushes the field of design further through design theory, research, and craft working hand-in-hand.
Gain methods for thinking and making to make the world a better place.
The work of our alums has impacted the lives of billions of people (literally). Our alumns get jobs within two months of graduation in industries such as technology, consultancies, and academia. Whether our alumns work for large corporations or local organizations, UW Designers use design as a tool to respond to the social, economical, environmental and ethical realities of the 21st century.
Explore More
DESIGN SHOWS
DESIGN CAREER RESOURCES
POLICIES + REQUIREMENTS
COURSES
Student Work
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Breuer Sans Typeface. Designed by Ashten Alexander, Sakura Chino, Vera Drapers, and Alan Enriquez. Based on a sign at the Seattle Waterfront Park. -
National Gallery Singapore Rebrand. Designed by Evita Wijaya. -
Variable Objects. Designed by Eric Nakassa. A modular furniture system catering to environmentally conscious apartment dwellers with limited space and an interest in maker culture. -
Disability Justice for Urban Planners and Designers card deck. Created by Olivia Quesada. This card deck educates professionals on creating accessible spaces for disabled folk. -
NED — Not Entirely Dead. Created by MDes student Eason Yang. NED is a social enterprise championing young adult cancer survivors in the workplace.
