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 design (industrial design), environments design for environments (physical spaces and related digital experiences), or communications design (graphic design and screen-based digital interactions).
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?
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.
Michele Hratko on Designing for Dancer’s Symposium
Michele Hratko, a rising sophomore at the School of Design (BDes ’27), was recently tasked with the design and branding for the CMU Dancer’s Symposium’s Spring Showcase – Reverie. Dancers' Symposium (DS), CMU’s largest student-run dance organization, aims to provide an open and supportive environment to further the exposure of dance, music, student choreography, and student performance.
Michele Hratko, a rising sophomore at the School of Design (BDes ’27), was recently tasked with the design and branding for the CMU Dancer’s Symposium’s Spring Showcase – Reverie. Dancers' Symposium (DS), CMU’s largest student-run dance organization, aims to provide an open and supportive environment to further the exposure of dance, music, student choreography, and student performance.
Dean’s List for Spring 2024 Announced
Congratulations to our outstanding students who made the College of Fine Arts Dean’s List for Spring 2024. The criteria for the dean's list is the top one-third of QPAs in each school within CFA.
Congratulations to our outstanding students who made the College of Fine Arts Dean’s List for Spring 2024. The criteria for the dean's list is the top one-third of QPAs in each school within CFA.
Celebrating the Work of Our 2024 PhD's in Transition Design
In May of 2024, Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is proud to announce our seven new PhD’s in Transition Design. This cohort, the largest number of PhD graduates in a single year for the School of Design, represents a fascinating array of thought, work, and research in the field of Transition Design.
In May of 2024, Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is proud to announce our seven new PhD’s in Transition Design. This cohort, the largest number of PhD graduates in a single year for the School of Design, represents a fascinating array of thought, work, and research in the field of Transition Design.
The 2024 School of Design Student Award Winners
Each year, the School of Design holds our Design Awards program during Design Week of the spring semester. This event celebrates the academic talents of our students and their contributions to the school.
Each year, the School of Design holds our Design Awards program during Design Week of the spring semester. This event celebrates the academic talents of our students and their contributions to the school.
Two Teams of Design Master's Students Win Muse Awards
Two teams of graduate design students from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design recently won 2024 Muse Design awards for their projects, Dish Dash and Dimono.
Two teams of graduate design students from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design recently won 2024 Muse Design awards for their projects, Dish Dash and Dimono.
Jiyeon Chun Wins IDSA Merit Award
Jiyeon Chun, a senior specializing in Product Design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design, recently won the 2024 IDSA Merit Awards. Each year, IDSA student chapters across the US nominate one undergraduate senior who exemplifies excellence within the industrial design field. Representing Carnegie Mellon, Jiyeon will compete at the IDSA district level for national recognition. Seniors Catherine Liu, John Henley and Georgia Miller were also recognized for their product design work.
Jiyeon Chun, a senior specializing in Product Design at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design, recently won the 2024 IDSA Merit Awards. Each year, IDSA student chapters across the US nominate one undergraduate senior who exemplifies excellence within the industrial design field. Representing Carnegie Mellon, Jiyeon will compete at the IDSA district level for national recognition. Seniors Catherine Liu, John Henley and Georgia Miller were also recognized for their product design work.
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.