University of Illinois Chicago

The School of Design at the University of Illinois Chicago is an established leader in design education. Grounded in studio culture and deeply involved with the human experience, UIC Design programs are organized to reflect and to advance developments in the field. Led by a faculty of renowned professional designers who are thoroughly committed to teaching, UIC Design students are introduced to contexts of culture and meaning as they develop the formal, conceptual, and technical skills necessary to confidently enter a professional setting.

Students at the UIC School of Design learn formal design principles, and they acquire the skills necessary to engage these principles in practice. At the undergraduate level, students are immersed in the aesthetics, mechanics, and systems of typography, while also developing skills in printing, bookmaking, motion literacy, user-interface, and web-based design. At the graduate level, students engage in project-oriented activities that foster analytical competence in research, writing, design history, and image theory, culminating in a public exhibition of the master’s research paper and project.

Design is city-centric and Chicago is a global design center. Through involvement in Chicago chapters of national design associations, employment in professional internships, and critical exposure to design practices and exhibitions, our students become active in the real world of design as they pursue their professional degree. design.uic.edu/

Creative Comment: What AI Can and Cannot Do

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GDUSA Digital Magazine: April 2026

FEATURE Highlight

The School of Design at the University of Illinois Chicago is an established leader in design education. Grounded in studio culture and investigating the human experience, UIC Design programs reflect and advance developments in the field. Led by a faculty of renowned professional designers who are committed to teaching, UIC Design students are introduced to contexts of culture and meaning as they develop the formal, conceptual, and technical skills necessary to confidently enter a professional setting.

Students at the UIC School of Design learn formal design principles, acquiring the skills necessary to engage these principles in practice. At the undergraduate level, students are immersed in the aesthetics, mechanics, and systems of typography, while also developing experience in motion literacy, user-interface, and web-based design. At the graduate level, students engage in project-based learning that fosters analytical competence in research, writing, design history, and image theory, cumulating in a public exhibition of the master’s research paper and project.

We take great pride in the fact that many ideas initiated in UIC Design classrooms expand and live beyond the university to bring about positive change in the world. Chicago is a global design center, and through engagement with industry partners, national design associ ations, employment in professional internships, community engagement, and critical exposure to design practices and exhibitions, our students become active in the real world of design as they pursue their professional design degrees.

design.uic.edu

Creative Comment: What AI Can and Cannot Do

We Want To Hear From You!

GDUSA Digital Magazine: April 2026

FEATURE Highlight

The School of Design at the University of Illinois Chicago is an established leader in design education. Grounded in studio culture and deeply involved with the human experience, UIC Design programs are organized to reflect and to advance developments in the field. Led by a faculty of renowned professional designers who are thoroughly committed to teaching, UIC Design students are introduced to contexts of culture and meaning as they develop the formal, conceptual, and technical skills necessary to confidently enter a professional setting.

Students at the UIC School of Design learn formal design principles, and they acquire the skills necessary to engage these principles in practice. At the undergraduate level, students are immersed in the aesthetics, mechanics, and systems of typography, while also developing skills in motion literacy, user-interface, and web-based design. At the graduate level, students engage in project­-oriented activities that foster analytical competence in research, writing, design history, and image theory, cumulating in a public exhibition of the master’s research paper and project.

We take great pride in the fact that many ideas initiated in UIC Design classrooms expand beyond the university to bring about positive change in the world. Design is city-centric, and Chicago is a global design center. Through engagement with industry partners, national design associations, employment in professional internships, and critical exposure to design practices and exhibitions, our students become active in the real world of design as they pursue their professional design degrees.

Contact: design.uic.edu/