Call for Design Curriculum and Class Proposals
MAD is inviting faculty to reimagine design education at MIT through a transformative curriculum innovation. We are seeking proposals that push the boundaries of design pedagogy and create learning experiences that challenge traditional academic approaches.
Jan 17, 2025
Vision
MAD will provide a total 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. Our evaluation will prioritize proposals demonstrating innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and long-term educational impact.
Guidelines
Drawing inspiration from successful design classes historically at MIT like the Visual Language Workshop’s Messages and Means, Design Across Scales, Fundamentals of Computational Media Design, Toy Product Design, Geometric Folding Algorithms, How to Design, How to Make (Almost) Anything, Product Engineering Processes, 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. Our evaluation will prioritize proposals demonstrating innovation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and long-term educational impact.
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.
Funding requests may include faculty and TA summer salary and EB, UROPs, materials and books, and some equipment. Some form of cost sharing is strongly encouraged and looked favorably upon by the selection committee. Awards are fund fee exempt. Awards will be administered by the faculty member’s department.
Applications
Funding up to $25,000
Proposals due: February 24, 2025, at 5pm ET
Application requirements:
- Completed application form
- 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)
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.