2026 Call for Design Curriculum and Class Proposals

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Vision

MAD will provide a total pool of $25,000 in funding to be distributed among selected full-time faculty developing new design classes or enhancing existing classes and introducing innovative pedagogical approaches to design learning. We are particularly interested in proposals that transcend departmental boundaries, offering interdisciplinary experiences that reflect the complex nature of design challenges.

Drawing inspiration from design classes like the Fundamentals of Computational Media Design, Toy Product Design, Design Across Scales, Geometric Folding Algorithms, How to Design, Product Engineering Processes, How to Make (Almost) Anything, and many others, we welcome proposals for new classes, cross-departmental subjects, lab components for GIRs, or design studios that expand MIT's educational landscape.

Evaluation will prioritize proposals demonstrating innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and long-term educational impact.

The 2025 Design Curriculum and Classes grantees include Graham Jones and Arvind Satyanarayan for Humane User Experience Design 21A / C36 and Marcelo Coelho for New Approaches for Scaling Design Education.

Guidelines

Selected grantees will receive one-time financial support and benefit from MAD's documentation and storytelling efforts, which will showcase these educational initiatives across various media and digital platforms.

We invite MIT's faculty to submit creative proposals that reimagine design education. Dream big, push boundaries, and help us inspire the next generation of designers.

Budget and Eligibility

  • Eligibility: Open to all full-time faculty, including Lecturers and Professors of the Practice.
  • Allowable Expenses: Requests may include materials and equipment, TA support, summer salary, documentation and dissemination.
  • Funding Period: Awards are typically for one academic year. Funds will be available July 1, 2026 and should be expended by June 30, 2027.
  • Cost Sharing: Some form of cost-sharing (e.g., departmentally funded TA hours, lab space, or administrative support) is strongly encouraged and viewed favorably by the selection committee.
  • Awards will be administered through the faculty member’s home department.

Applications

Funding up to $25,000
Proposals due: March 20, at 5pm ET


Application requirements on this form include:

  • One-page description, uploaded through the form, describing your educational objectives. Please address the following questions:
    • How will the class enhance design education at MIT? How does it differ from current MIT offerings?
    • How will it improve the students' experiences and understanding of design?
    • What is the potential impact on design at MIT and globally?
    • What is the estimated number of students who will be impacted, both immediately and in the future?
    • What is the proposed schedule, including potential assignments, learning goals and desired outcomes?
    • A syllabus is not required with the application.
  • Budget summary (included in the form)

Post-award Requirements

Award recipients are expected to submit a final report at the end of their funding period.

Contact

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact madcurriculum[at]mit.edu.