call for applications: master’s in design research

In these uncertain times, compelling writing, critical thinking, and careful research are essential tools that can help make sense of an increasingly complex world. No matter what life has in store for you (or what you have in store for life), the Masters in Design Research, Writing & Criticism equips you with lifelong skills that will only grow in value.

The program's curriculum charts the cutting edge of design practice and is responsive to the latest developments in the media landscape. It aims to generate provocative new thinking about design and to help shape the ways in which design is engendered, presented, and evaluated.

In addition to graduate coursework in a seminar format, each student develops a written thesis on the design topic of their choice that synthesizes investigative research with critical analysis, supported over the course of the year by faculty advisors and group workshops.

By providing the tools for constructing compelling narratives about design, the program prepares students for leadership positions in research-driven design practices, journalism, and publishing, or for PhD research in a design-related subject. However, the research tools, writing skills, and critical thinking that students gain through the program can apply to a variety of career paths and entrepreneurial endeavors.