SPOKANE – “Doctors” typically bring to mind thoughts of physicians. However, there are other unique doctors you may not have considered – doctors of design. While these aren’t medical doctors, when it comes to design, they are just as concerned about your welfare.
Graduates of the doctor of design program at WSU Spokane earn an advanced degree at the same level of academic standards as a Ph.D. The Interdisciplinary Design Institute offers this unique degree program, which began in 2005 to address a void in design education.
The program bridges education, research and practice within a philosophical and pedagogical framework. Today it is thriving with 14 students who are taking their areas of expertise to new levels within and beyond the design world.
According to the program assessment plan, the doctor of design furthers both the art and the science of design through interdisciplinary inquiry, critical synthesis and problem solving. Its focus is on applied research, and it emphasizes the advancement of knowledge in the design disciplines.
Students are allowed to follow their own path of inquiry within one of three areas: design and sustainability, design and health, and design and community.
All aspects of life interact with design on a variety of levels, from lighting and aesthetics in a room or building and the use of space in a neighborhood or community to incorporating the interaction of design with culture, history and government.
The very nature of this degree encourages students to push the boundaries across many disciplines. Students earning this degree integrate knowledge, resources and experience toward an applied outcome that contributes to socio-cultural wellbeing.
“The emerging strength of this program is the diverse disciplinary, cultural and professional backgrounds that our students bring to the table,” said Nancy Blossom, director of the Interdisciplinary Design Institute. “Integrating these diversities within the framework of design thinking challenges us as faculty and stimulates us to think at new levels ourselves.”
Doctor of design students endure a challenging and enriching experience at WSU Spokane. While they might not be able to diagnose an illness, they can certainly examine your environment and help you design a better way of living.
