Computer Science + Design (CS+DES: the  New Program in the University of Illinois   

I am the founder of this new interdisciplinary Computer Science + Design (CS+DES) Bachelor of Science program at the University of Illinois, which is based on the success and history of the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL). The program was developed during 2017-2022 and is the result of hard work by the CS+DES Program Committee, which included faculty from Computer Science and Design and myself as its chair. It successfully launched in the Fall of 2022. UIC is the only public university in the United States that offers a combined computer science + design undergraduate degree. CS+DES offers intensive technical studies in computer programming alongside studio-based instruction in design, by blending the vibrant intellectual traditions of two UIC departments.

Technology and creativity represent one of the most powerful combinations in the current job market. This new program offers professional training in both fields, integrating design courses with a strong foundation in computer programming. Students who complete this degree will join a new generation of technically savvy designers and creative scientists who operate in the exciting space between these two worlds.

This degree program provides an environment for experimentation, collaboration, and interdisciplinarity. Certain courses will concentrate on honing precise technical abilities (such as Programming and Typography) and others a more broad and expansive research projects, allowing you to engage with real-world communities, situations and activities.