Purpose and Objectives of Education
The goal of the Department of Design is to cultivate knowledge-integrated, professional designers who are grounded in fundamental design skills. Today’s designers must be able to respond proactively to a variety of life’s challenges. Beyond aesthetics, they must identify problems within social and cultural contexts and propose appropriate solutions. This involves driving societal change, creating new values, and actively fostering human-centered ideals.
To achieve this, the curriculum is systematically designed to develop insightful and well-rounded individuals equipped with liberal arts knowledge and a sense of community. It emphasizes core competencies—professionalism, integration, and leadership—to foster creative thinking, specialized design knowledge, and practical skills.
Additionally, the department actively promotes interdisciplinary integration through programs like the “Venture Business Interdisciplinary Major” and “Smart Design Interdisciplinary Major.” The leaders of tomorrow are those who can empathize, communicate, and create new values. Through the Department of Design, students have the opportunity to grow into compassionate designers who enrich our happiness and embody humanity.
Educational Approach
The Department of Design guides students to learn how to think independently and approach problems through the intersection of life, knowledge, and design. Each year is organized into small groups of about 10 students, and every student actively participates in critiques during class. One-on-one tutorials with professors are conducted regularly, along with personalized educational experiences like Master Classes by design CEOs and Portfolio Critiques tailored to each student. This approach supports students in designing and building their own futures.
Beyond the regular curriculum, the department offers various experiential learning opportunities each semester. These include the Design Camp, a field trip program; the Design Expedition, a career exploration and employment guidance program through company visits; the end-of-semester project exhibitions; and extracurricular events like the club exhibition, Mokkoji. These activities enable students to engage in diverse design thinking and hands-on experiences.