This core multidisciplinary studio spans two semesters and emphasizes design ideology, process, development, and production through collaboration with businesses, organizations, and communities. Projects focus on organizational development, service design, and user experience design.

Students engage in applied design research, synthesis, prototyping, and testing, communicated through clear information design and collaborative practice. They learn to apply design thinking to real-world social and business challenges, navigating complex processes through strong project management and communication skills.

Emphasis is placed on professional communication and co-design with clients and users. Students develop skills in problem framing, managing client relations, conducting research, and documenting their process and outcomes.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This studio strengthens command of each phase of the iterative design process, including:

• Design Research using ethnographic methods such as observation, interviews, and action research.

• Visualization and Mapping to understand problems, contexts, and stakeholder dynamics.

• Generating Knowledge to form relevant arguments and assumptions for design conceptualization.

• User Scenarios and Storyboarding to illustrate opportunities and applications.

• Iterative Design Process to refine prototypes through testing and feedback.

• Project Management to address constraints of time, resources, and roles.

• Collaboration Skills for teamwork across disciplines.

• Reflection to synthesize insights and evaluate outcomes.

The goal of this course is to address the complexity of interaction between human beings and designed systems, environments, or objects. In the first part of the course, students will be introduced to basic concepts and vocabulary in the fields of cognitive science and psychology in relation to interaction design. In the second part, students will apply their knowledge of cognitive science concepts and human-centered design theory to hands-on projects.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Provide students with an understanding of basic cognitive science concepts in the areas focusing on human interaction with the environment

• Examine the state of the art in the development of human-centered design solutions and interaction devices

• Sustain an advanced level of discussion about the current state of professional design practice with an emphasis on designing interactions as it relates to our contemporary cultural and technological

• Develop practical skills and provide hands-on experience in the development of original design and interaction interventions

• Develop skills of description, research, analysis, and critical thinking

How do we use design as a research methodology? What does it mean to design research rather than simply research to design? How might gathering qualitative and quantitative data serve as a way to engage users? How can we place humans at the center of the questions we ask to identify problems worth addressing?

This course introduces students to the application of design research through participatory action research methods. By completing a series of interactive exercises and studying real-world examples, students will become familiar with inclusive and human-centered design practices.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course offers opportunities to apply design theories introduced in the previous semester through hands-on, participatory exercises with communities affected by a given problem. Students will become familiar with design practices that engage and involve users directly in the research process.

The course focuses on the process of design—rather than the final product—by introducing the appropriate methodologies and tools. It also aims to raise awareness of pressing social issues and provide students with the means to address complex topics. Ultimately, it encourages the development of empathy within the design process and equips students to respond thoughtfully to the “wicked problems” that shape our world today.

This course focuses on design research as it applies to human-centered design. Through readings, presentations, and discussions, students learn to distinguish and articulate different research strategies, review methods, and explore ways of interpreting collected data.

By making sense of complexity through action and applying abductive thinking, students will develop meaningful arguments that support decision-making and iterative design development. Special emphasis is placed on ethnography, communication theory, and interventions within organizational systems and cultures.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Deepen understanding of the history, evolution, and maturation of design as a profession and discipline.

• Develop familiarity with the current discourse on design research, including key concepts such as practice-led design research (PlR), design science, science of design, design theory, and design criticism.

• Contribute to departmental resources by expanding the shared glossary, recommended readings, and visual representations of the design process.

This course guides students through the preliminary stages of their final projects, including the development of a clear argument, strategy, and timeline for the completion of the thesis. Students will also work to situate their projects within a broader socioeconomic context.

The outcome of this course is a formal project proposal that includes supporting research, the identification of a potential project partner, the central design question, a detailed action plan, and the composition of the supervising committee.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Develop a clear and well-supported design argument and research rationale.

• Formulate a central design question that addresses a relevant and contextually grounded issue.

• Identify and articulate the broader socioeconomic framework in which the project operates.

• Define a strategic plan and realistic timeline for project development and completion.

• Establish connections with potential project partners and advisors.

• Produce a comprehensive final project proposal, including research evidence, project goals, methodology, and implementation plan.

This course is a continuation of the MA Thesis Project Preparation course. Under the guidance of their supervising committee and in collaboration with their project partner, students prototype, test, and refine their design intervention.

The course also guides students through compiling and presenting their research and process in a publishable book. Emphasis is placed on developing strong narrative and visual communication strategies. The final documentation should be clearly structured and well-designed, guiding the reader through the design process in a coherent and engaging way. It should include sufficient visuals and infographics to illustrate findings, highlight data, and support the written argument.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Prototype and test the design intervention in real-world or simulated contexts.

• Document the iterative design process through clear visual and written communication.

• Develop a cohesive narrative structure that connects research, design rationale, and outcomes.

• Apply visual communication principles to create a publication-quality document.

• Integrate data visualization, infographics, and imagery to effectively convey insights and impact.

• Present the final project as a well-designed and comprehensive record of the research and design journey.

This course offers a creative and culturally immersive experience in a location outside Lebanon. Design Abroad exposes students to international perspectives on design and is structured around three phases: Embark, Wander / Get Lost, and Discover.

Students will act as observers and recorders of their surroundings, closely examining activities, environments, interactions, objects, and users in a new cultural context. These encounters will prompt reflection and discussion on the history and value of design within its specific cultural setting—helping students localize their own practice while identifying common threads across contexts.

The course is organized in partnership with a local institution to ensure meaningful engagement with the host city. It is led by design faculty and open to students from various disciplines. Upon return, students are expected to complete and present a project to faculty members.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Gain exposure to diverse cultural and contextual perspectives on design.

• Observe and document real-world interactions, environments, and artifacts as a form of design research.

• Develop cultural sensitivity and awareness of how context shapes design values and practices.

• Engage with local institutions and practitioners to understand regional design ecosystems.

• Reflect critically on the relationship between global and local design practices.

• Translate field experiences into a design project that demonstrates cultural insight and creative interpretation.

• Present and communicate findings effectively through visual, written, and oral formats.

A total of eight seminars are organized throughout the year, scheduled according to the availability of guest speakers and preferably limited to one full-day session (six hours) per seminar. These seminars introduce complementary skills essential to the professional practice of design, such as law, management, and entrepreneurship.

Replacing semester-long courses with intensive learning days, this format allows for greater flexibility in graduate students’ schedules while broadening their professional skill set. The series aims to equip students with the knowledge and tools needed to pursue independent initiatives after graduation.

Each seminar adopts a transdisciplinary approach, bringing together professionals from different fields who offer fresh perspectives and methodologies. A second cycle of seminars focuses on legal principles relevant to design practice, including intellectual property, authorship rights, and other essential legal considerations for designers.

A total of ten workshops are organized throughout the year, scheduled according to the availability of guest instructors and preferably limited to one interactive working day each. These workshops introduce complementary skills and practices relevant to the professional life of a designer.

Throughout the series, students are exposed to new tools, materials, and methods aimed at expanding their creative and technical means of expression. They are required to attend seven out of the ten workshops offered.

Each workshop serves as an introduction to different or complementary methodologies to those typically used in design practice. The goal is to broaden students’ skill sets and enable them to engage more deeply with parallel disciplines, crafts, materials, and techniques.

The program adopts a transdisciplinary approach, inviting professionals from diverse fields to share fresh perspectives and innovative practices that expand the way design can be learned, practiced, and understood.

This course explores design as a creative problem-solving process that responds to human needs and drives social change. Students examine how design thinking and research methodologies can address complex issues such as healthcare, education, disability, gender, poverty, and the environment.

Through case studies and small projects, students develop the skills to think and act as social designers, applying tools such as visualization, mapping, user research, and problem framing. The course culminates in a final project in which each student identifies and intervenes in a social issue of their choice.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understand and articulate the role of design as a driver of social change.

• Apply design thinking principles to address complex social and systemic challenges.

• Analyze and critique case studies of design interventions in diverse social contexts.

• Develop practical skills in visualization, mapping, and user research methods.

• Identify, define, and frame a social problem through human-centered research.

• Design and prototype a small-scale intervention that demonstrates social impact potential.

• Communicate project findings effectively through visual and written documentation.