M.A. Design
With a Master of Arts in Design with a concentration in Design Management and Strategy or Interaction and User Experience Design, students learn how to create imaginative, engaging, and valuable solutions in a virtual world, keeping innovation at the core.
“The program equipped me with new skills and methods that I still use daily to lead creative teams and manage important strategic initiatives.”
Noah Albro, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Change, CVP
The concentration in Design Management and Strategy explores how design can help organizations create and manage branded products and services. The program offers instruction in design management theory and best practices for creating human-centered innovation. Students develop leadership skills that enhance their ability to build internal design competencies and collaborate with peers in Marketing and Engineering to achieve business goals. Learn more about the concentration requirements.
Interaction Design involves the creation of products, services, and systems that are not only functional but also user-friendly and appealing. It revolves around a human-centric approach to innovation, effectively bridging the gap between businesses and consumers while enhancing the relevance of brands and organizations in the market. Learn more about the concentration requirements.
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MA Design Stats
Degree Requirements
All students in the M.A. in Design program will take Advanced Design Methods, Design Scenarios and Simulations, and Service and User Experience Design. Students will then select courses based on their concentration to complete the additional major required courses.
Students will have the opportunity to conduct original design research and translate research insights into design input. Students will be required to demonstrate independent discovery and research through completion of a thesis and will pass an oral examination on that work.
Past thesis examples include:
- “The Animated Interface: A User Experience Perspective on Best Practices in UI Design” (Tianchen Qiang)
- “Refer Me: Improving Online Tools For Finding Suitable In-Person Psychotherapy Services” (Carley Hummel)
- “Redesigning the Online Shopping Experience to Enable Positive Social and Environmental Choices” (Kristina Rasmussen)
- “Designing the Intersection of Technology and Timepieces: A High-End Watch Strategy for Garmin” (Todd Register)
Alumni from the KU M.A. Design program have gone on to work in positions like:
- Senior UX Designer, Microsoft
- Product Architect, Garmin
- Marketing and Training Manager, Apple
- UX Design Leader, Amazon
- Senior User Experience Designer, Oracle Cerner
- Director of Sales Enablement and Digital Strategy, Burns & McDonnell