Design is the interface between human beings and their environment. Thus defined, it’s easy to see how its value extends across numerous fields of study. That’s why the Minor in Design (or D-Minor) was established by the Department of Architecture with students from every MIT school in mind. The minor maps a path for any MIT undergraduate to learn core principles of design in dynamic studio settings, develop a sensibility for visual and physical form, and contribute to new ways of designing that are applicable across a spectrum of areas.
“Fluid rather than rigid, dynamic rather than linear, design is an exceptionally powerful method for introducing, understanding, and continuously refining ideas,” says Hashim Sarkis, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning.
D-Minor students will use design as a means of approaching challenges inherent in their own majors as they prepare for diverse careers in industry or academia. After taking three foundational design courses, students may choose three electives from the categories of Design Technology and Computation (e.g., Advanced Visualization, or Design and Manufacturing) and Arts and Culture (such as Introduction to Three-Dimensional Art Work, or Introduction to Networked Cultures and Participatory Media).
D-minor is one of seven new minors debuting in Fall 2016. The others are Computer Science; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Statistics and Data Science; Management; Business Analytics; and Finance.
Published in August 2016.
