School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago

Higher Education / Design Educationdesign.uic.edu

The UIC School of Design is a public university academic department within the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, offering undergraduate and graduate design programs in Chicago and an international MDes in Basel, Switzerland.

Company typePublic
Founded1955
HeadquartersChicago, United States
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago does

The UIC School of Design is an academic department within the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts at the University of Illinois Chicago, established in 1955. The school delivers undergraduate programs (Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design and Industrial Design, BA in Design Studies, and BS in Computer Science + Design) and a graduate Master of Design program in Graphic Design and Industrial Design, including an international MDes delivered in partnership with FHNW HGK Basel in Switzerland. Its primary constituents are prospective and enrolled undergraduate and graduate students; secondary constituencies include corporate partners, healthcare institutions, and cultural organizations that collaborate through the UIC Innovation Center (housing the OSF Lab, MAD Lab, UR* Lab, and Orbit Lab) and the school's broader research infrastructure.

The school's technical infrastructure includes the CAVE2 Hybrid Reality Environment, the UIC Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL), digital fabrication labs (Print, Project, and Fabrication Labs), and a Letterpress Typography Lab supporting both digital and traditional typographic practice. Research and applied work span healthcare delivery design (with OSF HealthCare, UIC College of Medicine, and the IHDD consortium including Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, UCSF, UPMC, and UT Austin), design exhibitions (with the Art Institute of Chicago and Typeforce), and grant-funded projects supported by the Graham Foundation, NIH, and Norwegian Research Council. Faculty outputs have earned Fulbright appointments, Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards, Graphis Gold, and recognition at the Venice Biennale.

Revenue derives from tuition and fees set by the University of Illinois system, supplemented by philanthropy and sponsored research. A flagship partnership with Morningstar, Inc., ongoing since 1992, yielded a $1 million Morningstar Design Fund in January 2025 (co-funded by the Mansueto family) for undergraduate scholarships and a Morningstar Design Faculty Scholar position, with Rafael Barontini appointed as inaugural Faculty Scholar in February 2026. As a department of a public state university, the school does not publicly disclose program-level financials, and revenue-band analysis is constrained accordingly.

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago firmographics

Firmographics

Name: School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago
Legal name: University of Illinois Chicago - School of Design
Website: https://design.uic.edu
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1955
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: The UIC School of Design is a public university academic department within the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, offering undergraduate and graduate design programs in Chicago and an international MDes in Basel, Switzerland.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education / Design Education
NAICS: Industrial Design Services (541420), Graphic Design Services (541430)
SIC: Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
akta.pro industry: PRIMARYEDAHAJAB
Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior)
Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Arts, Music & Design Colleges
SECONDARYEDAHAEAJ
Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering
Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

Keywords

Design education
Graphic design programs
Industrial design programs
Graduate design degrees
Interdisciplinary design

Where School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Chicago
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

Tuition and Fees: As a public university, UIC School of Design generates revenue through undergraduate and graduate tuition, with merit scholarships available for outstanding applicants. Many graduate students receive assistantships covering tuition and fees.
Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: The school receives significant funding from corporate partners including the $1 million Morningstar Design Fund for scholarships and faculty positions, as well as support from organizations like Project Osmosis for student scholarships.
Research Grants: Faculty and students engage in funded research projects through grants from organizations such as the Graham Foundation, National Institute of Health, and various healthcare partners.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	Graduate tuition for Illinois residents and non-residents varies per credit hour

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The School of Design at UIC delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in design disciplines, including the Bachelor of Design (Graphic Design and Industrial Design), BA Design Studies, BS Computer Science + Design, and a two-year Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design and Industrial Design with an international option at the Basel School of Design in Switzerland. It also operates design research labs (CAVE2, EVL, fabrication labs) and an annual student exhibition (Year End Show!) that anchors its academic and research mission.

Product overview

The School of Design at UIC offers a portfolio of academic degree programs including undergraduate Bachelor of Design (BDes), BA Design Studies, and BS Computer Science + Design, as well as a graduate Master of Design (MDes) in Graphic Design and Industrial Design. The school also hosts the Year End Show! (YES!) annual student exhibition, both in-person and as a digital platform, celebrating graduate and undergraduate thesis work. These offerings represent an integrated design education ecosystem spanning foundational to advanced professional study.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Bachelor of Design (BDes) Undergraduate degree program offering concentrations in Graphic Design and Industrial Design for students seeking professional preparation in design practice.
BA Design Studies

Quantifiable outcome

Ranked 7th in US for best value in Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education rankings
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago

Customer profile

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

Morningstar, Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2025Long-standing partnership since 1992. Morningstar is the largest employer of UIC School of Design graduates. Collaboration includes $1 million Morningstar Design Fund for scholarships, Visiting Scholar program, and faculty support. Morningstar Design Faculty Scholar position established for advancing design education and professional practice.
FHNW HGK Basel (Basel School of Design)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational Masters program delivering UIC MDes in Graphic Design at the famous Swiss design school. Students graduate with internationally accredited Master of Design degree, registered at UIC with classes held at FHNW/HGK Visual Communication Institute in Basel.
OSF HealthCare (Order of St. Francis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSF Lab at UIC Innovation Center focused on healthcare innovation for rural, low-income, and aging populations. Partnership values research, ideation, and prototyping tailored to OSF patients and providers.
UIC Institute for Healthcare Delivery Design (IHDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnit within Office of Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs collaborating with School of Design and other UIC colleges. Consortium includes Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, UCSF, UPMC, and UT Austin. Participates in NIH-funded research trials.
blkHaUS StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative studio including UIC Design faculty Norman Teague and alumni Daniel Overbey and Kwabena Ankobiah. Featured in Newcity Design 50 for immersive experiences and design work.
Project OsmosiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDesign education initiative fostering confident makers by engaging minority youth in activities promoting creativity. UIC Osmosis Charles Harrison Scholarship supports design students of color.
Break Through Tech ChicagominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMorningstar internships for UIC engineering students through Break Through Tech Chicago initiative supporting talent development.
Art Institute of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor cultural institution partner for exhibitions and design events. Chicagoisms exhibition collaboration with School of Architecture. Design works held in permanent collection.
Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL)coreTechnology or IntegrationInternationally renowned high-performance digital visualization center where design is integrated with virtual reality and advanced technologies. Home to CAVE2 Hybrid Reality Environment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): US art and design school offering undergraduate and graduate programs in graphic design and product-related design. Comparable to UIC School of Design in scope, design-school rankings, and creative-industry placement.
Parsons School of Design (The New School): Major US design school offering BFA and AAS degrees in graphic and product/industrial design. Comparable to UIC School of Design in program portfolio, urban location, and employer-driven reputation across fashion, product, and communication design.
Illinois Institute of Technology — Institute of Design (ID): Chicago-based graduate design school (descended from the Bauhaus/New Bauhaus tradition) offering MS and PhD programs in design. Comparable to UIC School of Design in Chicago geography, design-research orientation, and graduate-program competition.
Royal College of Art (London): Leading global postgraduate design school offering MA programs in visual communication, product/industrial design, and service design. Comparable to UIC's MDes programs in portfolio, global rankings tier, and international applicant base.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): Chicago-based art and design school with undergraduate and graduate design programs. Directly comparable as a same-city peer and as a US design school competing for the same Chicago-area applicant pool and design-employment outcomes.
Cranbrook Academy of Art: Graduate-only design school renowned for 2D/3D design and industrial design. Comparable as a small, design-focused graduate program competing for similar advanced design students and faculty.
Carnegie Mellon School of Design: US design school with undergraduate and graduate programs in design and human-computer interaction. Comparable to UIC School of Design in program structure and as a top-ranked US design school with strong industry placement.
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Premier US design college offering BFA/BDes and MFA/MDes-equivalent degrees in graphic and industrial design, widely regarded as a top-tier global design school. Directly comparable to UIC School of Design in program mix, prestige tier, and target student.
Pratt Institute: Private US design school with strong undergraduate and graduate industrial design and communications design programs. Comparable to UIC School of Design in scope, professional outcomes, and ranking tier.
Art Center College of Design: US private design college with strong undergraduate and graduate industrial design and graphic design programs. Comparable to UIC School of Design in target student and product/communication design portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago

What does School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago do?

Is School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago a public or private company?

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago founded?

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago was founded in 1955. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago based?

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.

How does School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships and research Grants.

Who are School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Parsons School of Design (The New School), Illinois Institute of Technology — Institute of Design (ID), Royal College of Art (London), School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Cranbrook Academy of Art, Carnegie Mellon School of Design, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Pratt Institute and Art Center College of Design.

Does School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago have an API?

No public API is recorded for School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago.

What industry is School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago in?

School of Design, University of Illinois Chicago's product category is Higher Education / Design Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAJAB, Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior), with a secondary code of EDAHAEAJ, Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering. Its NAICS code is 541420 and its SIC code is 8700.