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)
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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Dr. Megan Smith is a new media artist and designer who bridges physical computing within virtual and augmented reality environments. She is a UBC 2022 Killam Laureate, Associate Professor in Creative Technologies in the Faculty of Creative & Critical Studies. Her practice-based research probes systems for delivering syndicated data through narrative structure and she often works with virtual and augmented reality, Artificial Intelligence image generation, geo-location, live-feed installation, and performance as methods for storytelling. She has shown work internationally for over two decades. Her Canada Foundation for Innovation lab is called the Critical Future Studio/Lab. |
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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 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. Ray Taheri earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan in 2002. From 2003 to 2006, he collaborated with various industries, gaining extensive experience in Design Thinking and advanced manufacturing. As a distinguished faculty member, Dr. Taheri brings a wealth of expertise to the program, particularly fostering innovation through hands-on, experiential learning. His commitment to applied education exemplifies his leadership in the Makerspace movement at UBC. In collaboration with Professor Susan Crichton, he was pivotal in establishing dynamic, informal learning environments that have become integral to the campus community. Dr. Taheri currently serves as a professor of teaching at the School of Engineering at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, where he continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through innovative pedagogy and industry-driven learning 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. |
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
Master of Design Information Sessions
Watch a recorded 60-minute virtual information session to learn more about the Master of Design (MDes) program at UBC Okanagan.
Master of Design Ask Me Anything Session
Curious about the Master of Design program at UBC Okanagan? Join us for a casual, interactive Ask Me Anything session where you can get your questions answered by program staff.
Whether you’re wondering about admissions, the application process, or what it’s like to enhance skills in human-centered design, innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary collaboration, this is your chance to ask.
November 28th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm PDT
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 2026 are now open
- There is one intake in May of each year
Application deadlines
- International students: January 9, 2026
- Domestic students: January 30, 2026
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,
- names of two referees, and
- 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)
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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