The Department of Design Studies in the School of Human Ecology houses two graduate degrees–a Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Ecology – Design Studies.
The MFA promotes creative conceptual thinking, innovation, exploration, and excellence in design execution. The PhD program grounds itself in human ecological theory with a particular focus on how humans interact with their built environment. Graduates of this program are well-prepared to be leaders in the field of design research and scholarship, both within the US and globally.
Students are mentored by graduate faculty within the department, the School of Human Ecology, and the University more broadly, allowing students to build a team of expert faculty in subjects such as Art, Art History, Engineering, Folklore, Consumer Science, Civil Society & Community studies, and more.
The PhD Program
The PhD program currently offers three areas of concentration. Within each area, students are expected to build a self-directed but highly coherent curriculum in close consultation with a major faculty advisor. The tracks are:
- Design History – seeks to understand design in its historical context, as both a process and a product. Our program defines design broadly to include architecture, interior design, industrial design, decorative arts, and other areas of material culture.
- Environmental Design Research – addresses the interaction between people and their built, natural, and/or virtual environments with a clear goal to create environments that are sustainable and responsive to human needs
- Textile Science – investigates the interaction of dyes and finishes with fibers, yarns, and fabrics. Faculty and students in this program focus on sustainability and work to develop chemicals and processes that are safer for the end-user, textile workers, and the environment.
To learn more about this program please visit the Graduate School’s Human Ecology: Design Studies PhD Guide page.
The MFA Program
Students generally focus their work in one of two general areas:
- Textile and Fashion Design – students focus on the conceptual, technical, and aesthetic possibilities of textiles and clothing
- Interior Architecture – students typically concentrate on the innovative application of aesthetic, conceptual, and expressive design strategies in interior environments.
There are many students who may work across these areas or have an even more idiosyncratic integrative focus. In every case, students formulate a plan of study to suit their individual needs. The course of study requires the completion of a minimum of 60 credits includes a substantial studio work component. The curriculum seeks to create a foundation with flexibility to fit student needs.
To learn more about this program please visit the Graduate School’s Human Ecology: Design Studies, MFA Guide page.
Recent Alumni
Student Stories
Addison Nace named Summer Research Fellow at Museum of International Folk Art
"Nace will work with local artists and researchers to showcase the ways in which folk art traditions, particularly textiles, explore broader economic practices while respecting and protecting Indigenous knowledge systems."
Natalie Wright wins 2025 Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowship in American Art
Wright is one of seven emerging scholars awarded for their promising doctoral research on the history of the visual arts in the United States. The awards are designed to promote scholarship that advances and expands the field of art history.
Improving early childhood classrooms fuels PhD student Rudy Dieudonne
“This research provides...the power to help our government revise classroom design standards across this country and the power to defend students with autism, as well as their constitutional rights to education.”
Community and art making: Three graduating MFA students examine and celebrate the human experience
“We happen to have personalities and sensibilities that really work well together. We have become a family for sure; heart sisters.”
Dó-ing the work of heritage preservation: MFA student Veronica Pham spotlights Vietnamese papermaking
"I’m finding these connections between the history of papermaking and then the history of my own culture and heritage."
Addison Nace weaves a new understanding of global fashion
“[Nace’s] exhibit represents the kind of rigorous textile-focused work that we would love to do more of in the center,” says Carter. “It’s just so exciting to have our students be thought-leaders in the field in this way."
