Undergraduate Degrees at the School of Design
In the Bachelor's of Design program, you'll have the option to select a track to focus your education on: products, (industrial design), communications, (graphic design and screen-based digital interactions), or design for environments (physical spaces and related digital experiences)
Design with an emphasis on humanity and social systems
One of the oldest design programs in North America, the School of Design attracts students from all over the world, with a variety of backgrounds and interests, creating a rich and diverse learning environment.
What’s new?
The School of Design’s Dylan Vitone Featured in the International Center of Photography’s “American Job: 1940 -2011”
On January 23, the International Center of Photography (ICP) will present American Job: 1940 -2011. American Job: 1940-2011 “highlights the collection’s breadth and contemporary relevance by surveying the photographic response to labor organizing and strike activity, race and gender discrimination in labor, organized labor’s role in politics, labor and activism, and the intersection of labor and the social changes wrought by the economic restructurings of the twentieth century.” Among the more than 40 photographers featured of this exhibit is Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design Professor, Dylan Vitone.
On January 23, the International Center of Photography (ICP) will present American Job: 1940 -2011. American Job: 1940-2011 “highlights the collection’s breadth and contemporary relevance by surveying the photographic response to labor organizing and strike activity, race and gender discrimination in labor, organized labor’s role in politics, labor and activism, and the intersection of labor and the social changes wrought by the economic restructurings of the twentieth century.” Among the more than 40 photographers featured of this exhibit is Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design Professor, Dylan Vitone.
Ana Maria Pinto da Silva Named Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design Head
The College of Fine Arts (CFA) at Carnegie Mellon University has announced that Ana Maria Pinto da Silva has been named the new head of the School of Design. Pinto da Silva will begin her role on July 1.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ana as our next head of the School of Design,” said Mary Ellen Poole, dean, College of Fine Arts. “After a long search, it’s a pleasure to announce that we have found the right person to take our School of Design into a bright and humane future.”
The College of Fine Arts (CFA) at Carnegie Mellon University has announced that Ana Maria Pinto da Silva has been named the new head of the School of Design. Pinto da Silva will begin her role on July 1.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ana as our next head of the School of Design,” said Mary Ellen Poole, dean, College of Fine Arts. “After a long search, it’s a pleasure to announce that we have found the right person to take our School of Design into a bright and humane future.”
Dina El-Zanfaly on Pioneering a New Era in Artificial Intelligence
Last year, Carnegie Mellon University hosted a series of events across the United States titled “Pioneering a New Era in Artificial Intelligence.” These events, hosted by CMU President Farnam Jahanian engaged the academic community in discussions on AI-related topics and attracted nearly 2,500 alumni, offering diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives. Dina El-Zanfaly, Nierenberg Assistant Professor of Design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design and Director of the Embodied Computations Lab, took part in a series of panel discussions with fellow faculty experts, where she shared her unique research and insights in the field of AI.
Last year, Carnegie Mellon University hosted a series of events across the United States titled “Pioneering a New Era in Artificial Intelligence.” These events, hosted by CMU President Farnam Jahanian engaged the academic community in discussions on AI-related topics and attracted nearly 2,500 alumni, offering diverse and interdisciplinary perspectives. Dina El-Zanfaly, Nierenberg Assistant Professor of Design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design and Director of the Embodied Computations Lab, took part in a series of panel discussions with fellow faculty experts, where she shared her unique research and insights in the field of AI.
Master’s Students Launch Maker Club to Build Affordable Assistive Technology
Kimberly Blacutt and Audrey Reiley (MDes ’25) are bringing innovation to Pittsburgh with the formation of a new maker club aimed at creating affordable assistive technology. Their journey began with their participation in the prestigious TOM Fellowship, part of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), a global initiative focused on creating accessible technological solutions for people with disabilities, the elderly, and underserved communities.
Kimberly Blacutt and Audrey Reiley (MDes ’25) are bringing innovation to Pittsburgh with the formation of a new maker club aimed at creating affordable assistive technology. Their journey began with their participation in the prestigious TOM Fellowship, part of Tikkun Olam Makers (TOM), a global initiative focused on creating accessible technological solutions for people with disabilities, the elderly, and underserved communities.
Design Students, Ballay Center Contribute to Coulter Welcome Center Updates
After an incredible summer of work, the updates to the Coulter Welcome Center are now complete! The student-led effort is a collaboration among the Provost’s Office, the School of Design and the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion, University Communications and Marketing, and Enrollment Management. We want to congratulate Haeyong Kim, Daphne Peters, Hannah Lesser (BDes '24), Felix Cooper (BDes '25) and Helen Zhang (BDes '25) for their incredible work.
After an incredible summer of work, the updates to the Coulter Welcome Center are now complete! The student-led effort is a collaboration among the Provost’s Office, the School of Design and the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion, University Communications and Marketing, and Enrollment Management. We want to congratulate Haeyong Kim, Daphne Peters, Hannah Lesser (BDes '24), Felix Cooper (BDes '25) and Helen Zhang (BDes '25) for their incredible work.
Stacey Swinehart Ganderson on Design and Digital Accessibility
Stacey Swinehart Ganderson, a Communications Design alum from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (BFA ’00), has dedicated her career to inclusive design. With Stacey’s latest book, “WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual,” she’s looking to establish guidelines for greater web accessibility for all.
Stacey Swinehart Ganderson, a Communications Design alum from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (BFA ’00), has dedicated her career to inclusive design. With Stacey’s latest book, “WCAG for Designers: Accessibility Reference Manual,” she’s looking to establish guidelines for greater web accessibility for all.
Isha Hans on Her Work and Speaking at the Design Research Society
Isha Hans, a master’s alumna of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (MDes ’22), has had a busy summer. She published and presented her work at the Design Research Society (DRS 2024), is getting ready for another semester of teaching design at the University of Waterloo, and launched a Kickstarter for what she calls a “Play and Display” experience.
Isha Hans, a master’s alumna of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (MDes ’22), has had a busy summer. She published and presented her work at the Design Research Society (DRS 2024), is getting ready for another semester of teaching design at the University of Waterloo, and launched a Kickstarter for what she calls a “Play and Display” experience.
Jonathan Chapman to Give Keynote at He Kāhui Mano- Tribal Summit
On August 14th, 2024, the School of Design’s Professor Jonathan Chapman will be a keynote speaker at the at the He Kāhui Mano - Tribal Summit. The He Kāhui Mano - Tribal Summit aims to explore the intersection of climate change, culture, and community, focusing on how indigenous communities can tackle local challenges and contribute to global change.
On August 14th, 2024, the School of Design’s Professor Jonathan Chapman will be a keynote speaker at the at the He Kāhui Mano - Tribal Summit. The He Kāhui Mano - Tribal Summit aims to explore the intersection of climate change, culture, and community, focusing on how indigenous communities can tackle local challenges and contribute to global change.
Design Alumna Curates 25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee
Since 2019, Jennifer Kim Sohn, an alumna of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (BFA ’84), has been curating 25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee. This incredible project aims to address the vast crisis of human displacement by making the scale of it more visually relatable through stitches – one stitch for one refugee.
Since 2019, Jennifer Kim Sohn, an alumna of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design (BFA ’84), has been curating 25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee. This incredible project aims to address the vast crisis of human displacement by making the scale of it more visually relatable through stitches – one stitch for one refugee.
The School of Design at the 2024 Core77 Design Awards
The School of Design is proud to announce the student projects that were featured at the 2024 Core77 Design Awards. Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the Core77 Design Awards, now in its 12th year, celebrates "the richness of the design profession as well as the insight and perseverance of its practitioners." The Core77 Design Awards offers both students and professionals the opportunity to promote their best work on a global scale across 22 distinct design disciplines.
The School of Design is proud to announce the student projects that were featured at the 2024 Core77 Design Awards. Recognizing excellence in all areas of design enterprise, the Core77 Design Awards, now in its 12th year, celebrates "the richness of the design profession as well as the insight and perseverance of its practitioners." The Core77 Design Awards offers both students and professionals the opportunity to promote their best work on a global scale across 22 distinct design disciplines.
Featured Alumni: Karen McCurdy
All alumni of Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design go on to expand the practice of design in profound and unique ways as they head out on their own career journeys. For Karen McCurdy (who graduated as Karen Dann, BFA ’84), that journey led to an over 30-year career of active and reserve duty in the United States Army.
Start Your Design Journey
What are you waiting for? If have any more questions, you can always reach out to our faculty and staff to learn more about what makes the School of Design a truly unique design education experience.