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?
Design Students Win 2025 Core77 Notable Student Award for Future City
Future City, an interactive museum experience designed by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design Master’s students Alexis Morrell, Ivy Huang, Jean Chu and Sandra Chang has been recognized with “Student Notable” Award at the 2025 Core77 Design Awards in the category of Emerging Technologies. Future City was designed in partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and it reimagines how younger generations engage with natural history by connecting the past, present and future through immersive storytelling.
Future City, an interactive museum experience designed by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design Master’s students Alexis Morrell, Ivy Huang, Jean Chu and Sandra Chang has been recognized with “Student Notable” Award at the 2025 Core77 Design Awards in the category of Emerging Technologies. Future City was designed in partnership with the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and it reimagines how younger generations engage with natural history by connecting the past, present and future through immersive storytelling.
Groundswell Creates Space for the Soul: Co-Designing with Oncology Staff at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital
When UPMC Magee-Womens Cancer Services Staff enter the oncology unit on October 3rd, 2025, they will be met with the anticipated launch of Groundswell - a multi-level design ecosystem that supports the well-being of oncology staff. What originated as a concept pitch in a graduate course at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is transitioning to a twelve-month quality improvement research study. This careful evolution showcases what is possible to achieve through sustained relationships, cross-disciplinary co-design, and strategic stakeholder engagement.
When UPMC Magee-Womens Cancer Services Staff enter the oncology unit on October 3rd, 2025, they will be met with the anticipated launch of Groundswell - a multi-level design ecosystem that supports the well-being of oncology staff. What originated as a concept pitch in a graduate course at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is transitioning to a twelve-month quality improvement research study. This careful evolution showcases what is possible to achieve through sustained relationships, cross-disciplinary co-design, and strategic stakeholder engagement.
When Play Meets Culture: Designing Grammar Games with Sébastien Dubreil & Quinn Roberts
For Professor Sébastien Dubreil at Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics, French isn’t just learned - it is played. What started as a series of classroom exercises has evolved into “Games For French”, an archive of card and board games to teach the language, culture and vocabulary in playful ways. This summer, School of Design senior Quinn Roberts (BDes ’26) interned with Professor Dubreil to bring these prototypes to life as a polished collection of ready-to-play games.
For Professor Sébastien Dubreil at Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics, French isn’t just learned - it is played. What started as a series of classroom exercises has evolved into “Games For French”, an archive of card and board games to teach the language, culture and vocabulary in playful ways. This summer, School of Design senior Quinn Roberts (BDes ’26) interned with Professor Dubreil to bring these prototypes to life as a polished collection of ready-to-play games.
A Conversation with an Octopus
The Octopus Garden, a community garden in Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood created by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design’s Professor Kristin Hughes, was recently awarded a prestigious Food Justice Grant from the City of Pittsburgh’s Food Justice Fund (FJF).
To celebrate this grant, Kristin has a chat with Octavia the Octopus...
The Octopus Garden, a community garden in Pittsburgh’s Friendship neighborhood created by Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design’s Professor Kristin Hughes, was recently awarded a prestigious Food Justice Grant from the City of Pittsburgh’s Food Justice Fund (FJF).
To celebrate this grant, Kristin has a chat with Octavia the Octopus...
Eric Anderson Receives DMI Outstanding Achievement Award
Eric Anderson, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design, was honored with the Design Management Institute (DMI) Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2025 dmi:New Voices Shaping Design Futures Conference in Alexandria, Virginia. The recognition was celebrated again during the 50th Anniversary of the Design Management Institute, held in Boston from September 15–17, 2025.
Eric Anderson, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design, was honored with the Design Management Institute (DMI) Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2025 dmi:New Voices Shaping Design Futures Conference in Alexandria, Virginia. The recognition was celebrated again during the 50th Anniversary of the Design Management Institute, held in Boston from September 15–17, 2025.
Sophomore Sofia Limena Designs Poster for Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival
This fall, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a new visual identity—one created by Carnegie Mellon School of Design sophomore Sofia Limena. Limena’s poster was selected through the festival’s inaugural design competition, in the student award category, marking her first time working on a public-facing commission while still a student.
This fall, the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (PIJF) will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a new visual identity—one created by Carnegie Mellon School of Design sophomore Sofia Limena. Limena’s poster was selected through the festival’s inaugural design competition, in the student award category, marking her first time working on a public-facing commission while still a student.
From Concept to Care: Designing Groundswell for Oncology Caregivers
At UPMC Magee-Womens Cancer Services, staff navigate a daily reality filled with patient care, emotional labor, and moments of profound loss. Groundswell—a new dedicated space for reflection and restoration—was designed to meet these caregivers where they are: acknowledging the emotional toll of their work and offering a quiet refuge in the heart of a busy oncology unit.
Groundswell was developed through Designing with CARE: Co-Creating Solutions for Complex Care Coordination in Oncology, a spring course co-taught by Professor Kristin Hughes at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
At UPMC Magee-Womens Cancer Services, staff navigate a daily reality filled with patient care, emotional labor, and moments of profound loss. Groundswell—a new dedicated space for reflection and restoration—was designed to meet these caregivers where they are: acknowledging the emotional toll of their work and offering a quiet refuge in the heart of a busy oncology unit.
Groundswell was developed through Designing with CARE: Co-Creating Solutions for Complex Care Coordination in Oncology, a spring course co-taught by Professor Kristin Hughes at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh’s Schools of Medicine and Nursing.
Ana Maria Pinto da Silva Begins Role as Head of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design
Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is thrilled to announce that Ana Maria Pinto da Silva has begun her role as Head of School on July 1st, 2025.
Pinto da Silva joins CFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she previously served as Director of UW’s Masters in Human Computer Interaction and Design program.
Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design is thrilled to announce that Ana Maria Pinto da Silva has begun her role as Head of School on July 1st, 2025.
Pinto da Silva joins CFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she previously served as Director of UW’s Masters in Human Computer Interaction and Design program.
Looking Back at the First Year of Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion Courses
The 2024-2025 academic year marked the first full year of courses from the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion (JBCDF). The JBCDF, founded through an endowment from Professor Emeritus Joseph Ballay and his wife Sue, establishes a formal presence of design expertise and outreach at Carnegie Mellon University and creates a new outlet for the School of Design to advance its distinct approaches to problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and curricular innovation.
This year's courses included Bugs & Bioinspiration, Comics, Cybernetics and Dynamics of Change, Creative Concepting, Designing for Presence, and Patterns in Nature.
The 2024-2025 academic year marked the first full year of courses from the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion (JBCDF). The JBCDF, founded through an endowment from Professor Emeritus Joseph Ballay and his wife Sue, establishes a formal presence of design expertise and outreach at Carnegie Mellon University and creates a new outlet for the School of Design to advance its distinct approaches to problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and curricular innovation.
This year's courses included Bugs & Bioinspiration, Comics, Cybernetics and Dynamics of Change, Creative Concepting, Designing for Presence, and Patterns in Nature.
Celebrating the Work of Our 2025 PhDs in Transition Design
Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design is proud to announce our three new PhDs in Transition Design. Our latest cohort, consisting of Fas Lebbie, Alexander Polzin and Matthew Wizinsky, represents a fascinating array of thought, work, and research in the field of Transition Design.
Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design is proud to announce our three new PhDs in Transition Design. Our latest cohort, consisting of Fas Lebbie, Alexander Polzin and Matthew Wizinsky, represents a fascinating array of thought, work, and research in the field of Transition Design.
Featured Alumni: Josh Finkle
Hi, I'm Josh Finkle (BA '10) is a toy and game inventor working on everything from Barbie to Batman. His passion for physical prototyping, kids, and fun keeps me engaged in the toy industry.
Josh is currently an independent toy and game inventor, dreaming up, prototyping, and pitching ideas to major toy companies including Mattel, Hasbro, and Spin Master who are constantly in need of innovative new ideas to keep kids learning and engaged in play.
Featured Student Award Winner
Last year, Melissa Qin (BDes '27) won the Marilyn Meltzer Award.
Marilyn Meltzer is a prominent artist and fiber sculptor whose work is represented in numerous museums and private collections. This award commemorates her lifelong interests by honoring a student who has shown an ability to combine outstanding design with effective use of color. This prize is open to all full-time (rising) junior students in the School of Design. One student will receive this $2500 award annually which may be used for advanced study, such as study abroad or summer study.
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.