The BA in Interdisciplinary Design offers a broad approach to design grounded in product and interior design, with an emphasis on business, culture and human experience. Rather than following a singular professional studio track, students engage design as a form of inquiry, critical thinking and problem solving through areas such as spatial thinking, visual communication, materials, research and emerging digital technologies.
The degree is intentionally flexible, allowing students to shape individualized pathways through electives, minors, and interdisciplinary study connecting design with fields such as the arts, humanities, technology, business, environmental studies and the social sciences.
Stats
4 years
120 credits
In-person classes
Pursue a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Design
The Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Design at Western Michigan University is a broader and more adaptable approach to design education. It combines studio-based learning with coursework in design, business, culture, communication, and emerging technologies. You're developing creative and analytical skills across multiple contexts, not just one. You'll graduate ready to take your work in a lot of different directions. You can pursue a career across creative industries, entrepreneurship, collaborative professional practice and are prepared for graduate study.
What you'll learn
In the Interdisciplinary Design program, you'll work across studio courses, design representation, materials, ergonomics, entrepreneurship and applied design inquiry to build a broad understanding of how design shows up in the real world. Your coursework draws from interior design, product design, visual communication, and interdisciplinary research, so you're constantly moving between thinking through ideas and actually making things. Best of all, you shape your own degree! Choosing electives, potential minors, and coursework that connects design with whatever else drives you, whether that's technology, business, the arts, sustainability or the social sciences.
Learning outcomes
- Visual communication and design representation
- Spatial thinking and materials exploration
- Ergonomics and human-centered design
- Entrepreneurship and applied design inquiry
- Research and critical thinking
- Creative problem solving across design disciplines
Where you'll be after graduation
Graduates of the BA in Interdisciplinary Design apply design thinking across a wide range of industries and professions. Whether working in creative agencies, cultural institutions, technology companies, nonprofit organizations, design firms, or entrepreneurial ventures, graduates bring skills in research, communication, systems thinking, collaboration, and innovation. The program prepares students not only for today's opportunities, but also for emerging careers that require interdisciplinary knowledge.
The program further provides a strong foundation for graduate study in applied design, architecture, planning, communication, business, and other interdisciplinary fields. Through a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, creative inquiry, and collaborative problem-solving, graduates are prepared to navigate evolving professional opportunities and contribute meaningfully to complex social, cultural and technological challenges.
What scholarships are available for an interdisciplinary design degree?
Western Michigan University offers institutional scholarships, grants, and financial aid opportunities for undergraduate students. The Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation offers additional scholarships to students in design programs.
Additional admission requirements
The BA in Interdisciplinary Design is a unique pathway within the Richmond Institute. Students are admitted into the program after completing at least one year of study as a declared pre-Interior Architecture and Design or Product Design major.
You’ll work with an academic advisor and program coordinator to map out an individualized course plan that fits your interests, elective choices and potential minor.