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Why MIT's New Design Program Will Get Designers a Seat at the Table
Why does "Design" have to be a part of any title?
Another great program to add to the community!
There is room in the pool for everyone! I, for one, am glad that a solid brand like MIT has embraced this topic to create a serious version of design thinking (let them call it whatever they wish). MIT only takes on things that are very well conceived, but flexible enough for change. This program is set up as a prototype, and as such, will be continually improved. That IS design strategy! I love having IDM as a staple in Boston. It is the first vital offering in New England.
Mark, I love what you're thinking. In fact, in essence, we are doing as you suggest. We'recross-educating engineers in design and business, designers in engineering and business, and those with a business background in engineering and design. We're not making designers better designers, we're making them better innovators and leaders and helping to create a culture in which collaboration is facilitated by a common language. Keep staying on top of this!
Having worked in industry as a User Experience Designer for over 20 years (under many titles, but the same basic job), I am happy to see programs like the one described, but I am not sure that they are the solution. In a typical technology lead company, it is the product development managers who really set the tone and make the decisions on the inevitable trade offs that come up while creating a product. They nearly always come from a engineering/programming background. The best results I have seen is when these managers learn the value of design over time and become champions without getting in the way. I have never seen a designer leading product development. I suppose this would lead to two paths - try to educate more dev mgrs on design, or make designers more technical so they can take on tech leadership roles. I am not sure making designers better designers is going to do much.
Thank you for the kind words, Walter. I did not mean to imply that IDM is all alone, and in fact Northwestern University's MPD2 program has been an inspiration to me and served as a benchmark as we developed the program for MIT. It is my hope that we can collaborate in the future to communicate the power of design and broaden its impact on the world.
Does anyone know of a program in Manhattan (metro area) that is similar to this or Northwestern's or C. Melon's PD programs?
Matt Kressy is spot on in terms of dealing with the totality of design and the need to better train more design professionals to get them off the sidelines and into the business side. He seems to indicate the MIT Intgrated Design Lab program, is "all alone" in this space.
Northwestern University's, Master of Product Design and Development Management program is the oldest in the US (entering our 14th year), having graduated approximately 450 professional designers and developers. Most all have matriculated on a part time basis, and take all the basic MBA type classes, as well as advanced concepts dealing with design and development.
Four colleges have their faculty teaching in the program, to include the business school, law school, engineering school,integrated with the Segal Design Center, and the college of arts and sciences.
Applications are now being taken, and open house visits are available at:
http://segal.northwestern.edu/programs/graduate/mpd2/
or, just call me:
Walter Herbst, cell 847 682 0129, anytime, as I love to talk about the program.
Deleted my post?