Segal Design Institute, Design innovation center at Northwestern University, Evanston, US
The Segal Design Institute is a learning center at Northwestern University where engineering and design come together as one approach. The facilities include studios and workshops equipped with modern tools where students build and test their ideas to solve practical problems.
The institute began in 2007 when Gordon and Carole Segal donated resources to create a place where design thinking would be woven into engineering studies. Their support made it possible to build something new that brought together two fields that had been kept separate before.
Students from different fields work together on projects that solve real problems by thinking about what people actually need. You can see this collaborative spirit throughout the studios, where engineering meets creative thinking in a very practical way.
The workshop areas have specialized equipment for making prototypes and working with different materials, though some spaces may be restricted to registered users. Planning your visit by checking which areas are accessible helps you make the most of what the institute offers.
Many student projects come from real partnerships with companies, not just classroom exercises, giving them actual work experience before graduation. This direct connection to industry means their solutions often move beyond campus and get put into real use.
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