Complex challenges require many design disciplines—not just one. The SVA Products of Design is a STEM-Certified masters program that provides the tools and methodologies from all the key design fields. We empower graduates with the leadership abilities they need to solve global problems and create lasting social change. Here’s how:

1. We train “multilingual designers”

The design of anything necessitates the design of everything, so we teach the most vital disciplines of design—from product to interaction design, social impact, service, experience, public policy, and design for justice. In addition, students learn the language of business, entrepreneurship, leadership, sustainability, branding, supply chain, and labor practices. [Learn more about the curriculum]

2. We don’t have Grades

Here’s why: First, one of the reasons that education can fail is that it spends more time measuring people than mentoring them. Second, we want maximum risk from our students, and a no grade policy lets them spread their wings without fear. Third, and above all, we want to build trust between students and faculty. And that’s hard to nurture when you are constantly being evaluated. [Read alumni reflections]

3. We teach in real studios

In addition to our campus location, students take classes in professional studios around New York City—from Frog Design and IDEO to Johnson & Johnson, Material ConneXion, Robin Hood Foundation, and Atlasson. Plus, they attend workshops and meet with the leadership at ground-breaking organizations from Google Creative Lab, Lyft, Kickstarter, Etsy, and the New York Times. [See what a day in the life at Products of Design is like!]

5. WE PROTOTYPE EVERYTHING

Beyond scholarship and research, we are devoted to the prototype. We believe in making—whether it’s a systems map, a user journey map, a physical working prototype, or an animation for a mobile app. Everything we do is about creating convincing prototypes—to work with users, to evaluate what needs to come next, and to use design to drive positive, lasting change. [Check out our maker space, the Visible Futures Lab]

4. Our FACULTY ARE ALl WORKING PROFESSIONALS

Our faculty list reads like a who’s who of Design Industry champions. From MoMA curator Paola Antonelli to Antenna Design's Masamichi Udagawa, our faculty are experts in their field, deeply involved in local and international design worlds. They bring both their hands-on methodologies, as well as their unique perspectives on the future of design into the curriculum, and into their classrooms. [Learn more about the faculty]

6. Everything we do has a moral center

Evidenced by the thesis topics, the course work, and partnered projects, the beating heart of the program centers on social impact, design for justice, systems change, and the drive towards a more fair and equitable world. If you want to be a positive force, here’s where you’ll get fortified. We place moral integrity, empathy, and generosity over all other design skills. [Learn more about our thesis projects]

OUR students get hired

Just some of the places where our students are now working include Johnson & Johnson, IDEO, IDEO.org, Frog Design, Google, Microsoft, IBM, R/GA, Lyft, Vice Media, MoMA, JP Morgan, Pinterest, Method, Ziba, Bark & Co., SYPartners, 2X4, Pentagram, Local Projects, Deloitte, Arup, 18F, Code & Theory, American Express, Mythbusters, Tiffany, Argodesign, Madwell, Landor. [Learn more about our job fairs]

We ask for a portfolio of work, a letter of intent, and a few other items to fill out the application. You can learn more by visiting our apply page.

Also, you might want to come for a visit if you’re in New York City—maybe sit in on a class or two, and have lunch with the students!—or arrange to meet with our leadership over Skype if you’re in other parts of the world. We’d love to meet you! Just reach out.