Innovate. Change. Care. Apply Today.
Apply to MFA DSI to learn the design mindsets and capabilities to support people and the planet.
- How can design shift us towards more healthy, caring systems?
- What conditions and collaborations enable communities, systems, and ecosystems to thrive?
- How can eco-social design increase innovation and our capacities for change?
EVENTS
DSI x IXD Open Studios 2025 - Dec 10
When: Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Time: 4:00 – 8:00 PM EST
Location: 136 W 21st Street (Registration required)
Come to the School of Visual Arts’ Fall OPEN STUDIO at MFA Design for Social Innovation and MFA Interaction Design.
- At DSI (Floor 5): See an installation of graduate students’ design portfolios as well as our annual MFA DSI Global Guest Lecture Alumni Critique.
- At IXD (Floor 3): See exhibitions showcasing student work, including interactive projects, prototypes, and ideas that reimagine how we live, play, and connect.
Preservation is a practice of memory. Care, culture, and connection.
On Friday, Dec 5 (3:30 pm), join this evening workshop offered by Lammeh @lammeh.nyc and Grey Area Collective is an invitation to hold what nourishes us, to learn from ancestral genius, and to preserve more than food — to preserve care, culture, and connection. Space is limited.
Interested in graduate school? Ask Us Anything!
What do you care about? Drop in to our Virtual Info Session and “Ask Us Anything”! Talk with chair, Miya Osaki. the DSI team, and *surprise* DSI guests who will open the floor to any and all questions about social design, grad school, and the future. Receive an $80 application fee waiver.
Meet Madhuri Rao (MFA DSI '24)
Madhuri Rao is a Communications Specialist and social impact designer working at the intersection of public health, behavioral design, and community well-being. She works at WorkWell NYC, part of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations, to help City employees live healthier lives and engage with free wellness programs. Her work explores the intersection of holistic practices, cultural traditions, and systemic change.
Earth’s Kitchen
Madhuri Rao (MFA DSI ’24)
Earth’s Kitchen is an intergenerational catalyst that empowers NYC residents and beyond to transition to a plant-based diet to mitigate climate change. Aligned with the Plant-Based Treaty, it provides resources and toolkits for community gatherings and immersive learning experiences to help form holistic connections with nature and make informed decisions.