Advancing Innovation and Design in Higher Education Across the Globe
We help partners envision the future and transform challenges into scalable, sustainable solutions for higher education through bold, innovative prototypes.
When Arizona State University set forth on its transformation journey two decades ago, we knew we had to redesign ourselves from the core outward. We focused on purpose, we recognized the importance of context, we committed to an inclusive process and we applied design principles that gave us the structure and freedom needed to reimagine, redesign and rebuild the institution. Today we are a comprehensive knowledge enterprise dedicated to the simultaneous pursuit of excellence, broad access to quality education and meaningful social impact. Established in 2019 at ASU, the University Design Institute™ (UDI) was created to serve as a catalyst for transformation in higher education across the globe.
We recognize that traditional models are inadequate in the face of rapid and unprecedented social, technological, and economic changes. Successful 21st century higher education needs bold, new designs; leapfrogging ideas; systemic approaches; and a relentless focus on innovation.
UDI is closing the gap between how universities are currently structured and what they can be. We help universities move from problems to prototypes and build capacity within institutions to carry on the transformation work themselves.
Change is possible when we work together.
Our Vision
Universities emerge as powerful engines of social transformation and economic impact.
What We Believe
Higher education has a fundamental responsibility to improve human and planetary well-being.
In collaboration with a diverse team of stakeholders, the University Design Institute applies a co-design process to six core university design imperatives to tackle global challenges and yield sustainable outcomes.
Our Values
We create an environment of trust, support, acceptance, and safety to foster a sense of belonging and wellbeing.
Change is an opportunity for progress, so we tirelessly work to co-create solutions to transform higher education.
We embrace curiosity and an exploratory mindset to promote individual and institutional growth.
We commit to challenging processes and perspectives in a supportive environment to push toward continuous improvement.
Through a culture of collaboration, we weave together a community of problem-solvers to move from ideas to implementation.
We fail forward, take risks, and move quickly to craft solutions with purpose.