UC Berkeley Master of Design

The Master of Design (MDes) is a professional graduate program in design for emerging technologies that emphasizes critical design and social practice to address the new realities of emerging technologies in the 21st century. Technologies like artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, sensing, and the internet of things have great potential to reshape communities, industries, and environments, yet also raise ethical concerns and questions about their possible, often unforeseen, impacts. Today’s engineers, designers, and industry leaders developing creative technologies need to be equipped with thoughtful new approaches and design tool kits to respond to these dynamics.

The MDes prepares students for these roles by connecting technical rigor, design theory and social practice. Over three semesters, students develop core skills in design process, prototyping and communication, as well as a critical lens on technology and design through a sequence of debate-focused seminars. Graduates leave the program as engaged and responsive social practitioners with a deep understanding of the foundations of design and emerging technology and an informed awareness of people, contextual needs and societal impacts