The moment we've been working toward is just two days away: Friday, May 15. 🎓
Join us in celebrating the Institute of Design's Class of 2026! This year's Graduate Celebration kicks off with inspiring remarks from ID alum Brianna Sylver @briasylver@sylverconsulting (MDes 2003) and student speaker Faysal Biobaku @fayzzbee (MDes 2025), followed by the launch of our Graduate Show & Annual Collection — a showcase of the remarkable work our students have produced this year.
Virtual tickets are available for the Graduation Remarks — link in ID Events in bio. See you there! 🙌
#Grad2026 #NextGenDesigners #DesignLeadership #FutureOfDesign #GraduateShow #EndOfYearShow #ChicagoDesign #DesignExhibition
From Bauhaus roots to the future of AI.
A venue built for thinkers, designers, and innovators, Nivan 2026 is proud to take place at the Institute of Design, a space shaped by bold ideas, creative exploration, and the future of design.
5.21.2026 | Chicago
nivan.live
#NivanLive #Nivan2026
The moment we've been working toward is here. 🎓✨
Join us in celebrating the Institute of Design's Class of 2026! This year's Graduate Celebration kicks off with inspiring remarks from ID alum Brianna Sylver @briasylver@sylverconsulting (MDes 2003) and student speaker Faysal Biobaku @fayzzbee (MDes 2025), followed by the launch of our Graduate Show & Annual Collection — a showcase of the remarkable work our students have produced this year.
These graduates leave ID driven by intention and ready to spark innovation, foster growth, and create meaningful change.
Virtual tickets are available for the Graduation Remarks — link in bio. See you there! 🙌
#Grad2026 #NextGenDesigners #DesignLeadership #FutureOfDesign #GraduateShow #EndOfYearShow #ChicagoDesign #DesignExhibition
We are saddened to share the passing of ID alum Roger Sweet, the designer behind one of the most iconic characters in pop culture history — He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. He was 91.
Roger didn't just design a toy. He designed a universe — one open enough to span fantasy, sci-fi, an animated series, a feature film, and nearly five decades of cultural relevance. A new live-action film from @amazonmgmstudios and @sonypicturesentertainment arrives this June, a testament to just how enduring his vision was.
His story is a reminder that design education shapes culture in ways that outlast any single product. We are proud he was one of ours.
🔗Link in bio to read more about Roger.
#HeMan #MastersOfTheUniverse #Mattel #DesignLegacy #RIPRogerSweet #DesignLegend #CulturalIcon #DesignHistory
We were thrilled to see such an incredible turnout for the eighth annual Lucas J. Daniel Lecture in Sustainable Systems! This event is a proud, long-standing collaboration between the @iitdesign and AIGA Chicago, aimed at bringing world-class design thinking to our local community.
With over 100 attendees joining us last Monday, the energy in the room proved that when we bridge the gap between design education and professional practice, the impact is undeniable. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to our partners at AIGA for another successful year of fostering dialogue on sustainable systems.
Check out the full recap of this year’s lecture here: https://lnkd.in/g2SnWMNa
#DesignCommunity #AIGAChicago #InstituteOfDesign #SustainableSystems #DesignLeadership #ChicagoDesign
Professor Weslynne Ashton @weslynnea doesn't fit neatly into one box — and that's exactly the point. As a transdisciplinary sustainability scholar at ID and @iitstuartschoolofbusiness@illinoistech , she's reimagining how our economic systems can work in harmony with nature. 🌱
For Weslynne, design is a powerful tool for understanding human behavior and structuring change that actually sticks. Students who leave her class seeing the world differently — and ready to do something about it.
🔗Want to learn from Weslynne and other thought leaders at ID? Tap the link in bio for more.
#EarthMonth #InternationalDesignDay #Transdisciplinary #SustainabilityScience #DesignEducation #CircularEconomy #SystemsThinking #SustainableBusiness #DesignThinking #DesignForGood #DesignLeadership
Last Monday, the Institute of Design (ID) and AIGA Chicago were honored to host a captivating talk by Luca Gonnelli, co-founder of the Italian design studios Algo and Illo.tv
In this special one-night event, with over 100 people in attendance, Luca shared insights on how design can translate complex datasets into meaningful experiences, with a specific focus on sustainability.
This event marked the eighth annual Lucas J. Daniel Lecture in Sustainable Systems, a collaborative presentation by the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech and AIGA Chicago.
Just before Earth Day, we welcomed Luca Gonnelli @l_isforluca — CEO and Creative Director of @algo.tv — as our featured speaker for the annual Lucas J. Daniel Series in Sustainable Systems.
Algo is a data visualization studio that specializes in video automation, transforming complex datasets into clear, visually compelling stories. They make difficult ideas — especially around sustainability and the environment — accessible to broad audiences.
Their client roster (some shown here) speaks to the scale of their impact: The Nature Conservancy @nature_org , Bloomberg Philanthropies @bloombergdotorg , The New York Times, Google, Apple, Doctors Without Borders, and a range of innovative international startups have all turned to Algo to communicate environmental data with both accuracy and clarity.
At the heart of Algo's work is Luca's belief that creativity and technology are better together — that "robots and humans can happily coexist and create awesome things together." It's a philosophy that shows up in every frame they produce, and one that resonates deeply with the systems-thinking approach we champion at ID.
#EarthDay #Sustainability #SustainableSystems #DataVisualization #DataDesign
Born on this day in 1926 (100 years ago!) ID alum Burt Meyer designed Lite-Brite, Mouse Trap, and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots—toys that have delighted millions ever since. His philosophy: "You have to have a childlike imagination." An outlook that knows no age or generation, and is why a toy he created six decades ago is still relevant today in the hit series “Stranger Things.” Meyer's work showed how design creates experiences, not just objects—a principle that remains central to how we approach human-centered design at ID today. Happy Birthday Burt!
#LiteBrite #StrangerThings #DesignLegend #TimelessDesign #DesignHistory #ChildlikeImagination #HumanCenteredDesign #ToyDesign #ProductDesign #StillRelevant
Come hear @l_isforluca (Creative Director of @algo.tv and @illotv ) talk about data, sustainability, systems and why doing design matters even when the world burns.
Monday Apr 20 in Chicago at @iitdesign Institute of Design at @illinoistech — for the eighth annual Lucas J. Daniel Series in Sustainable Systems
The talk is co-presented by @aigachicago Ticket proceeds will fund fellowships of ID students.
Get your ticket at the link in bio
Join us this Monday, April 20 at @iitdesign Institute of Design at @illinoistech as Luca Gonnelli, CEO & Creative Director of data visualization studio @algo.tv and @illotv , headlines the eighth annual Lucas J. Daniel Series in Sustainable Systems, by focusing on communicating about sustainability with generative systems.
Luca believes that motion design infused with emerging technology has the power to transform complex datasets into impactful experiences that can move audiences to actions on the pressing issues of our time.
He will share his expertise on using technology and motion design to communicate sustainability-related data with clarity.
This Lucas J. Daniel Lecture in Sustainable Systems is co-presented by the @iitdesign Institute of Design at Illinois Tech and @aigachicago Ticket proceeds will fund fellowships for ID students.
For tickets, go to the link in our bio.
#DesignInTheAgeOfAI #DesignLecture #SustainableDesign #chicagoevents #DataVisualization #DataStorytelling #MotionDesign #DataInMotion #AIDesign #DataDesign #DesignForGood #DesignInnovation
This June, an extraordinary cohort of global leaders will gather in Peru’s Sacred Valley to redefine value and reframe how we work.
Design executives. Founders. Artists. Cultural leaders. All pushing the edges of how value is created in business, culture, and society.
Contact us to learn how you can join these leaders for the 2026 Reclaiming Value Immersion cohort, co-curated with @empathy_la and offered in partnership with @iitdesign .
Images courtesy of the participants.
Albert Shum
