MSc in Design Research in Philadelphia United States | Drexel University

The program trains individuals to become skilled questioners, strategic thinkers, collaborative leaders, and innovative design professionals. The Dexel Master of Design Research (MsDes) stands as a groundbreaking, cross-disciplinary program designed to cultivate the next generation of design leaders for modern workplaces.

Tailored for students from all design backgrounds, creative fields, and career changers, our program offers a flexible yet structured learning experience. This interactive curriculum emphasizes social impact design, strategic design thinking, and forward-looking technologies. Participants generate fresh insights across emerging technologies, services, environments, products, and user experiences. Our approach to design research fosters knowledge creation that fuels innovation and team-based problem-solving.

Graduates pursue careers across various sectors, working with interdisciplinary teams in nonprofit, academic, healthcare, product development, fashion, manufacturing, urban design, and finance. The program rigorously trains students in design strategy and application across multiple contexts, exposing them to diverse research methodologies through partnerships with academic and industry leaders.

This 48-credit program offers full-time and part-time options, with flexible course formats to accommodate working professionals. Student-driven research topics have included: sustainable service design, mobility assistance tools, disaster relief housing solutions, human-centered AI applications, eco-conscious living services, and educational community health initiatives. The curriculum integrates hands-on creation, research, prototyping, teamwork, and user-focused design principles. As part of the nationally recognized Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, the program features state-of-the-art facilities and instruction from industry-leading faculty. Located within the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism, students benefit from connections with Interior Architecture & Design and Urban Strategy graduate programs. The program serves as a platform for exploring design innovation in technology, social change, community development, environmental design, and health. While maintaining a core foundation, the curriculum allows for personalized electives and a culminating thesis project. Combining research, studio work, theoretical study, and iterative development, students engage in cross-disciplinary collaboration to develop pioneering solutions and experimental frameworks for examining culture and human-centered design.