MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology
Design the future of technology.
The two-year, STEM-designated Master of Design for Human-Computer Interaction and Emerging Technology at WashU offers an innovative approach to digital product design, prioritizing societal issues, ethical and moral concerns, and the larger implications of technology.
Situated within a tier-one research institution, students collaborate with researchers from across campus to explore emerging technology’s impact while advancing team-building and leadership capabilities.
Graduates will be positioned to take their career to the next level as a senior UX designer or product designer, an entrepreneur, part of a startup team, or an academic — ready to tackle the societal challenges that matter most.
Chair, MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology; Associate Professor
“By leveraging multiple schools across campus, graduates of the MDes program will gain a depth and breadth of experiences in tactics, strategy and societal context, a combination unrivaled in the current academic landscape.
This program isn’t for those who want to fit a mold. It’s for those looking to forge their own paths to redefine what design can do for the world.”
Upcoming Recruitment Events
Aug 7, 12 – 4pm • Sam Fox School
Graduate Programs Summer Open House
Explore our graduate programs at WashU’s Sam Fox School during our Summer Open House. This event offers an in-depth look at our programs, the admissions process, and the community that defines our school. Join us for program overviews, lunch, and a guided tour, and a portfolio workshop.
Graduate Programs
- Master of Architecture
- Master of Landscape Architecture
- Master of Urban Design
- MS in Advanced Architectural Design
- MS in Architectural Studies
- Dual and Joint Degrees in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design.
- MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture
- MFA in Visual Art
- MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology
Schedule: The event begins with check-in from 12 - 1pm in Weil Hall on campus. During this time, you’ll have the opportunity to explore our studio spaces, tour our facilities, and visit the Kemper Art Museum. After check-in, you’ll take part in program overviews, enjoy lunch, a guided Sam Fox School tour, and a portfolio workshop.
Curriculum
The curriculum emphasizes robust product design and development skills in parallel with critical thinking, speculation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration — including a two-year, continuous studio that mirrors industry timelines.
Faculty
Faculty from across WashU in the Sam Fox School, McKelvey School of Engineering, and College of Arts & Sciences lead the design labs and core curriculum. All have robust, rigorous research agendas integrating technology, design, and social impact. Core faculty — in addition to industry sponsors and content experts — mentor individual and collaborative projects throughout the two-year program.
Senior Lecturer; Co-Area Coordinator - Time-Based Media Art
Assistant Professor; Minor Advisor, Creative Practice for Social Change
Chair, MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology; Associate Professor
Assistant Professor; Minor Advisor, HCI
Partners
Design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. We build active partnerships with tech companies, healthcare institutions, and community organizations to address some of the most challenging problems of our time.
Health
- WashU Medicine
- WashU Institute of Public Health
Tech
- WashU McKelvey Engineering
- Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Growing start-up culture in St. Louis
- WashU Digital Solutions Studio
Community
- Office for Socially Engaged Practice
News and Opportunities
Featured news
The all-school Recognition Ceremony featured speakers with messages of inspiration, encouragement for graduating students in art, architecture, and design.
Featured news
Andrew Witt has been installed as the inaugural Kavita and Krishna Bharat Professor at the Sam Fox School.
Featured news
Faculty research into haptic-guided driving simulator aims to enhance human-computer partnership in compromised environments
Featured news
Assistant Professor Bei Hu joined the Sam Fox School in 2024. In this Q&A, she shares what excites her about design and teaching in the MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology program.
Over 92% of incoming graduate students at the Sam Fox School received a partial or full-tuition scholarship.
The Office for Socially Engaged Practice brings faculty and students at the Sam Fox School together with communities to work on socially engaged projects in St. Louis and around the world.
Schedule a campus visit or take our virtual tour! There’s no better way to get a feel for the program and what opportunities WashU and St. Louis has to offer.