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Master of Design
Master of Design (MDes)
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Faculty/School School of Engineering and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies |
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Program Master of Design |
| Components Coursework |
Length 12 months |
Why study Master of Design at UBC Okanagan?
The Master of Design (MDes) is a professional graduate program for students who want to turn ideas into results. Rooted in critical design thinking, creative practice and design principles, the MDes program empowers students to tackle real-world challenges alongside industry, community and public sector partners.
One-year program
MDes is a 12-month, full-time, in-person professional program that prepares graduates to lead at the intersection of design, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.
Interdisciplinary collaboration
Designed for students from a range of academic backgrounds, including technical, business, arts and creative disciplines, who want to pursue a professional master’s degree in design and innovation. This program will cultivate a community of designers ready to tackle real-world industry challenges.
Student Experience
Students will be part of a small, cohort-based program providing 1:1 interaction with award-winning faculty from both the School of Engineering and the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies.
Career advancement
MDes cultivates a vibrant, innovation-driven learning community focused on real-world change. The program’s structure allows students to move from problem exploration and stakeholder engagement to implementation, prototyping and advanced solution development in collaboration with industry and community partners.
Graduates are equipped to bridge the gap between technical and creative domains, positioning them for leadership roles such as product manager, design strategist or director of product and design.
To complete the 30-credit professional master’s degree students must complete
- 15 credits of core courses,
- 3 credits of elective courses, and
- 12 credits of facilitated studio/makerspace and showcase work.
May and June (Summer term 1)
2 Courses (6 Credits): DICE 501 (3) Design and Innovation + DICE 502 (3) Innovation and Participatory Research
July and August (Summer term 2)
2 Courses (9 Credits): DICE 503 (3) Visualization and Virtualization of Design and Production Cycle + DICE 504 (6) Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation
September—April (Fall and Winter terms)
2 Courses: DICE 505 (6) Studio Experience + DICE 507 (6) Showcase
Any term
+ 1 (3 credit) elective course Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies or School of Engineering graduate courses (can be taken at any time must be approved by program advisor)
Current Students
Please refer to the 2026 MDes Advising Sheet to review the courses required to obtain a Master of Design degree.
2026-2027 MDes course Advising Sheet
Focuses and Faculty
Program Cornerstones
Design
Merge technical depth with creative freedom. Through cross-disciplinary, problem-based learning, students develop solutions that are not only functional, but meaningful. Design is seen as an act of stewardship, addressing social and community challenges with clarity, imagination, and respect for the systems and people involved.
Innovation
Design not just for efficiency, but for life. We place human dignity, wholeness, and compassion at the center of innovation. Students engage in seminars, discussions, and workshops that explore the philosophical and ethical dimensions of design for the common good. Innovation here is not driven by urgency or metrics, but by presence, care, and the courage to ask what truly matters.
Creativity
Keep the spirit alive. Students learn visualization, drawing, design thinking, and project management, but always in service of deeper creativity, cultural respect, and authentic collaboration. Creativity is not treated as a performance, but as a practice of presence: slowing down enough to see clearly, and acting freely from that clarity.
Entrepreneurship
Build ventures that protect what is vital. Using a start-up framework, students create socially and culturally responsive solutions in collaboration with practicing experts. Entrepreneurship here is not about extraction or scale alone, but about cultivating sustainable and regenerative impact. We emphasize invitation over coercion, shaping enterprises that people want to join because they feel purpose, not pressure.
Master of Design Program Team
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Dr. Kenneth Chau is a professor, entrepreneur, and design educator whose work bridges engineering, creativity, and real-world impact. As co-coordinator of the world-class Engineering Capstone program, he has guided hundreds of students in collaborating with industry and community partners to solve complex, meaningful problems. Drawing from a career that spans advanced research, company creation, and leadership development, Kenneth brings a deep commitment to helping people learn by doing and to transform ideas into tangible innovations. His vision for the MDes program is to cultivate a new generation of design leaders who combine technical literacy with imagination, empathy, and purpose. |
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Myron Campbell is an Associate Professor of Teaching with the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies. From 2001–2008, Campbell worked with the Trailer Park Boys in Halifax, later moving on to the Banff Centre For The Arts as Lead Designer of the online digital arts + culture magazine, Horizon Zero and as an Interactive Consultant for resident artists and writers. In 2008, after several years of freelance interactive design and animation, Campbell joined Switch United as their youngest Art Director at 28 years old. He co-created interactive installations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and in December 2010, he was awarded Best Interactive Designer at the Canadian New Media Awards in Toronto, Ontario. Campbell completed an MAA with distinction at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in 2012 and where he received the Governor General’s Gold Medal for academic excellence. He has presented and exhibited internationally. |
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Dr. Sabine Weyand (On Leave) received her MASc degree from the University of Ottawa in 2011 where she developed and tested a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Physician-Parent Decision Support Tool (PPADS). In 2015, she received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto. Her research focused on developing a Neurofeedback Based Near-Infrared Spectroscopy BrainComputer Interface. In 2016, Dr. Weyand joined the educational leadership stream of the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. Since 2023, Dr. Weyand has served as the Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies focusing on Faculty Affairs leading program development and strategic initiatives. |
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Dr. Alon Eisenstein is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the School of Engineering. His teaching focus is on technology entrepreneurship and professional development, which includes courses focused on entrepreneurship, communication, leadership, to name a few. Alon is recognized as a global leader in Entrepreneurial Work-Integrated Learning, and is a champion of experiential learning pedagogy. Having background in both natural and social sciences, his philosophy for teaching and for life is anchored in understanding the world through an interdisciplinary lens, with a passion for social and environmental justice. His research interest include understanding how the engineering identity aligns with an entrepreneurship identify, and how such alignment/misalignment impacts engineers’ choice and success in pursuing the entrepreneurship path. |
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Dr. Richard J. Aleong is an engineering education researcher and interdisciplinary design educator who cares about helping all learners discover themselves, their world, and how they can contribute in meaningful ways. His dissertation research investigated the ways that educational developers experience disciplinary perspectives in their work as interdisciplinary professionals. In support of his dissertation research, he was awarded the Donnan Fellowship by the College of Engineering. His research and teaching focuses on interdisciplinary engineering learning, human-centered design and collaboration, and educational development for engineering education transformation. Dr. Aleong is committed to designing learning systems and experiences that support all learners in their personal and professional growth. |
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Philip Wyness is Technical Director in the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. An artist, designer, educator, and project leader with more than two decades of international experience, his work bridges creative practice, design innovation, advanced manufacturing, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Philip leads the development of research, studio, and fabrication environments that support creative inquiry and emerging forms of design practice. His expertise spans design prototyping, advanced manufacturing, project management, and the integration of traditional and emerging technologies. Passionate about applied learning and problem-solving, he works with students, researchers, and community partners to transform ideas into meaningful and impactful outcomes. Philip holds a Master of Fine Art from Newcastle University, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fine Art from Manchester Metropolitan University, and Qualified Teacher Status through the University of Northumbria. |
Master of Design Entrance Award
The Master of Design Entrance Award is a merit-based $5,000 award for incoming, full-time students accepted into the Master of Design Program. Selection is based on academic excellence, creativity, and design innovation potential. The $5,000 award will be applied as a tuition credit toward full-time study in the Master of Design program at UBC Okanagan.
Eligibility:
- Be an incoming, full-time domestic or international student admitted to the Master of Design program
- Demonstrate academic excellence, creativity and design innovation potential
How to Apply:
All domestic and international applicants will automatically be considered upon complete application submission to the Master of Design program.
Upcoming Events
Design Your Future: Master of Design Program Info Session
Date: July 30, 2026
Time: 8-9am PT
Location: Online Webinar
This information session will provide prospective students with a thorough introduction to the Master of Design (MDes) program at UBC Okanagan — a 12-month, full-time program at the intersection of design thinking, creative practice, and engineering.
Topics will include program curriculum, expected learning outcomes, program requirements, admissions criteria, funding opportunities, and more. MDes faculty, staff and current students will be in attendance to address questions and provide multiple perspectives on the program.
Prospective students from both undergraduate and professional backgrounds are welcome and will leave with a clear understanding of what the MDes offers and what it takes to apply.
Behind the Program: A Conversation with Master of Design Faculty
Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 5-6pm
Location: Online Webinar
This is a great opportunity for prospective students to engage directly with the faculty who teach and shape the Master of Design program at UBC Okanagan. This session is designed for you and is an opportunity for you to ask your questions directly to faculty involved in the program. They can speak to the academic experience, interdisciplinary nature of the program, and the outcomes students can expect—both during and after their studies. Whether you are evaluating if the MDes program is the right fit for you or are ready to apply, this is an opportunity to gain informed, firsthand perspectives from those who know the program best.
Attendees are encouraged to come with questions and to engage candidly with faculty who are invested in helping prospective students make well-informed decisions. A Zoom link will be sent out closer to the date of the event.
Life as a Current Master of Design Student
Date: October 16, 2026
Time: 12-1pm
Location: Online Webinar
This session is designed to give prospective students a closer, more candid look at the Master of Design (MDes) program experience through the voices of those currently enrolled in the program. Panellists will include students who joined directly from undergraduate programs and those who came with prior industry experience, providing a well-rounded perspective on academic life, personal growth, and the transition into the program. Topics will range from day-to-day student life and strategies for success, to community, campus culture, and what it means to be a graduate student in the Okanagan.
It is an opportunity to ask the questions that go beyond program logistics. And to get the peer-to-peer insight that can only come from those currently living it.
Careers and outcomes
The skills learned in this program will set students up for success post-graduation, enabling them to go into industry or entrepreneurship and tackle complex challenges.
Students coming out of this program will be well positioned to bridge the gap between technical and creative worlds and pursue employment opportunities in diverse sectors taking on various design, innovation and product related roles.
MDes graduates may pursue careers in the areas of
- product management,
- design director,
- design lead,
- design strategist,
- director of product, and
- design and head of product-type roles.
Tuition and funding
UBC Okanagan’s tuition and fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre.
Tuition
| Program | Schedule | Domestic (per year) | International (per year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDes | Full-time | $30,220 | $52,600 |
Tuition amounts presented here are estimates only, and do not include application fees or student fees. Tuition will be paid in 3 instalments.
Tuition is paid up to four times a year at the beginning of each term, and on the first day of the term, as per the Academic Calendar: Winter Term 1 (September), Winter Term 2 (January), and Summer Term (May & July).
Tuition amounts presented here are estimates only and all fees are subject to change. For official tuition and fee information, visit the UBC Okanagan Academic Calendar, a comprehensive guide to all programs, courses, services and academic policies at the university of British Columbia.
Admission and applying
The Master of Design program is designed for graduates of bachelor’s degrees from engineering, technical, business, creative and arts backgrounds.
Admission Requirements
Applicant will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Relevant academic experience with a minimum overall grade
- English language proficiency
- Program-specific requirements
Academic experience
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, we recommend this being in a field relevant to the program. You must also meet UBC’s minimum academic requirements, which are based on the country where you completed your undergraduate degree.
If you studied in Canada or the United States, you must have completed an undergraduate degree and attained an overall average of 76% in your upper years of study.
If you studied outside of Canada or the US, you must meet the minimum academic requirements for the country where you completed your undergraduate degree.
Proof of english language proficiency
For success in the program, you must be able to fluently speak, comprehend and write in English.
If you completed your degree at a university in a country where English is not the only official language, you may need to provide results of an English language proficiency test as part of your application.
Learn more about the proof of english language proficiency requirement.
How to Apply
Application details
- Applications for May 2027 will open on June 1st 2026
- There is one intake in May of each year
Application deadlines
- International students: November 6, 2026
- Domestic students: January 22, 2027
A complete application package will contain
(To apply you’ll use the e:vision portal. To begin, you’ll be asked to create a CWL account if you don’t already have one)
- online application and application fee,
- CV or resume,
- unofficial transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended are required for the application package; however, if admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts to the College of Graduate Studies.
Program Specific Requirements
- Statement of interest (maximum 1,000 words) outlining their motivation for applying, their academic and professional goals, and why they believe they are a strong fit for the program
- Supporting documents (as applicable)
- Professional portfolio (up to 10 samples and/or links to digital work) or description of projects completed (descriptions of projects completed through course work is acceptable)
- Names of two referees (applicants will be contacted if required)
Applications will be reviewed and offers of admission will be made on a rolling basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.
Exceptions
Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements stated above, but who have had other significant formal training, relevant professional experience, and/or otherwise possess demonstrable knowledge or expertise that would prepare them adequately for successful study in the graduate program, may be granted admission on the recommendation of the Program Director and the approval of the Dean.
Discover the Okanagan
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