The Masters of Arts in Design program fosters creativity, innovation, responsibility, and intellectual growth by preparing its graduates to meet the challenges pursuant to a successful career within the professional design world. Through collaborative experiences and theory-driven coursework, students broaden their understanding of the impact of design on culture and community, thereby promoting responsible leadership, and emphasizing ethical engagement and social implications of design practice. The Masters of Arts in Design program at KCAD is a residency program the builds a studio culture that engages student in experiential, collaborative learning and invites students to develop a broader understanding of design and its impact on culture and community.

What will I learn/study in this program?

As a student in the Master of Arts in Design program, you’ll engage in collaborative learning experiences and research-driven course work to broaden your understanding of design and its impact on culture and community. This residency program for established design professionals merges its own unique course offerings with graduate seminars from the Master of Fine Arts program in a flexible curriculum framework that enables you to activate your specific interests and strengths while investigating transdisciplinary approaches to thinking, making, and learning.

Building upon advanced design research practice, the program encourages you to consider a wide array of artifacts and scholarly approaches by providing opportunities and resources that inspire critical dialogues and collaborative scholarship with students from KCAD’s other graduate programs.

What skills will I develop in this program?

In the Master of Arts in Design program, you’ll develop expertise in the application of historical, critical, and theoretical models and modes of praxis to a broad range of design projects. You’ll also become empowered to translate your understanding of design as a social and cultural force to situated practice within communities. Ultimately, you’ll emerge as a creative, innovative, intellectually curious, and responsible leader capable of inspiring ethical engagement and responding mindfully to the social implications of design practice.

Why earn a Master of Arts in Design degree at KCAD?

The Master of Arts in Design leverages KCAD’s rich history of leadership in arts and design education and expertise in design thinking and human-centered design to help you take the next giant leap forward in your professional design career.

Where can I expect this degree to take me professionally?

As a graduate of the Master of Arts in Design program, you’ll be prepared to meet the challenges pursuant to a successful career within the 21st century professional design world. You will leave the program poised to advance in your current position and in your career, and you’ll also be well positioned to pursue a doctoral degree.

As a student in this program, what is the capstone project/assignment/educational experience I must complete?

In the Master of Arts in Design program, your capstone project will consist of research of source material, field research, and/or the application of methods learned in advanced seminar classes to a topic related to design practice, methodology, and culture. You’ll integrate all of your coursework and classroom experiences into professional quality work that exhibits mastery of the knowledge and skills gained in the program and contributes meaningfully to the field of design.

As a student in this program, what tools/technologies/support systems will I have access to?

During your time in the Master of Arts in Design program, you’ll benefit from KCAD’s Material ConneXion Satellite Library, which offers direct access to more than 1,000 physical samples of advanced, innovative, and sustainable materials as well as online access to over 7,000 more. You’ll also have access to The Dow Center FlexLab, KCAD’s state-of-the-art digital fabrication facility featuring 3D printers and scanners, laser cutting and vinyl cutting machines, wide format printers, and more.