Northwestern's Master of Science in Engineering Design Innovation (EDI) is a full-time graduate program designed for engineers and those with technical backgrounds who want to be part of creating new products that will have a direct and positive impact on the world. Students of the program learn a human-centered approach and use design thinking in order to offer innovative solutions to real-world problems.

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Leading the design of innovative products, services, and technologies through a human-centered approach

MS in Engineering Design Innovation

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“Working with people from different backgrounds and learning how to utilize their skills best was a big takeaway for me. Everyone in EDI has a really different, unique approach to things and it’s just a really good lesson to learn for any job.”

Morgan Williams (EDI ‘18)
Product Researcher, P&G

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Top-tier
faculty

Learn from tenured faculty and leading industry professionals who extend their knowledge with 
one-on-one mentorship throughout the program.

ACCESS TO 

LEADING FACILITIES

Flourish through use of EDI's cutting-edge tools in the studio spaces, rapid prototyping lab, fabrication shop, mechatronics lab, and computer labs.

CAREER 

SUCCESS

EDI's intimate nature ensures students gain access to an unparalleled mentoring focus, and EDI's co-directors leverage their networks to broaden student resources.

Top-tier faculty

Learn from tenured faculty and leading industry professionals who extend their knowledge with 
one-on-one mentorship throughout the program.

ACCESS TO 

LEADING FACILITIES

Flourish through use of EDI's cutting-edge tools in the studio spaces, rapid prototyping lab, fabrication shop, mechatronics lab, and computer labs.

CAREER 

SUCCESS

EDI's intimate nature ensures students gain access to an unparalleled mentoring focus, and EDI's co-directors leverage their networks to broaden student resources.board members.

SIGN UP FOR INVITES TO OUR NEXT INFO SESSION

"Our program is about developing hybrid designers poised to work with others in solving the complex design problems companies are facing now and in the future. This requires the skills, agility, and collaboration to work across typical boundaries in addition to leveraging their core technical competencies. Our job is to tailor this 
approach to their particular area of interest."

Jim Wicks
Director of the edi program

in design thinking - an innovative process of user observation, visualization, rapid prototyping, and iteration. Graduates of this program are prepared to lead cross-functional teams and design groundbreaking new products and services.

Typical EDI students are engineers who like to create, are comfortable with problems that are hard to pin down, and care about culture and contemporary context.
With studio-style classes, an emphasis on team projects, and unparallel mentorship, students are deeply immersed

Typical EDI students are engineers who like to create, are comfortable with problems that are hard to pin down, and care about culture and contemporary context.

With studio-style classes, an emphasis on team projects, and unparallel mentorship, students are deeply immersed 
in design thinking - an innovative process of user observation, visualization, rapid prototyping, and iteration. Graduates of this program are prepared to lead cross-functional teams and design groundbreaking new products and services.

FOCUSED 
PROGRAM

Complete a master's degree in 18 months (including an optional summer internship) through full-time study.

SPECIALIZED 
CURRICULUM

Enjoy a custom-designed curriculum focused on the human-centered design process that blends analytical skills, intuition and creative thinking.

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

A heavy focus on hands-on, team-based projects 
fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and 
leadership skills.

EMPLOYER-READY SKILLS

Graduate ready to showcase ample project work to prospective employers including a comprehensive thesis project backed by support from industry mentors.

unique 70/30 blend of technology and business coursework

principles and newer,  emerging technologies. Business courses (30 percent) in finance, marketing, and management provide a framework for students to understand how to translate their technology ideas into practical business solutions.

MSIT provides an intensive and unique curriculum across three fundamental areas: communication systems and networks, computing systems engineering, and business and management principles. Technical courses (70 percent) focus on fundamental engineering

WHY NORTHWESTERN?

"Our program is about developing hybrid designers poised to work with others in solving the complex design problems companies are facing now and in the future. This requires the skills, agility, and collaboration to work across typical boundaries in addition to leveraging their core technical competencies. Our job is to tailor this 
approach to their particular area of interest."

Jim Wicks
Director of the edi program

MS in Engineering Design Innovation

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