Design Research Cluster
Co-sponsored by the McCormick School of Engineering and The Graduate School, the Design Research Cluster brings together interdisciplinary faculty and
In the Design Research Cluster, researchers seek to understand and design the relationships between technology and society, and lead research efforts focused on high-impact complex problems including information access, personalized health and well-being, income inequality, online privacy and security, and life-long learning.
Design Research Cluster Overview
The Design Cluster is not a degree program. Doctoral students participate in the Design Cluster through their faculty advisers and receive
In the Design Cluster,
- Discover, develop, teach, and practice the common principles and techniques underlying design and idea creation
- Engage faculty in collaborative, interdisciplinary research to pursue new funding opportunities
- Participate in an alternative intellectual community for design faculty and doctoral students at Northwestern
The Design Cluster also organizes social events, seminar series, and research symposium featuring Northwestern faculty and students and researchers from other institutions and industry.
Leadership
The Design Cluster is led by the following individuals:
Curriculum
The Design Cluster’s interdisciplinary curriculum covers three core areas:
- Human-centered design
- Computational thinking and computational design
- Design skills and methods
Learn more about the Design Cluster curriculum
Who Should Apply?
Students interested in joining the Design Cluster should apply to join upon their arrival on campus. In the past, doctoral students in the following doctoral programs have actively participated: Technology and Social Behavior, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering