Beyond MDEF: Professional Development in Practice
Explore the career paths MDEF alumni undertake after graduation
Graduating from the Master in Design for Emergent Futures marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with a variety of diverse opportunities for professional growth and development. Equipped with newfound knowledge and skill sets, it is exciting to receive the opportunity to put those learnings into practice. At the same time, entering the job market and deciding which path to take can be intimidating, especially if you are unsure about your options in the first place.
This blogpost aims to provide clarity to anyone curious about the career paths MDEF students are ready to undertake after they graduate, supported with examples of alumni projects!
Research: Pursuing Scholarly Endeavors
For those interested in the educational aspect, the path of research opens doors to academia and beyond. This can take the form of obtaining a PhD, leading to either a teaching career, joining a research or innovation lab within an institution, or combining both.
Laura Freixas pursued a PhD and is now part of Elisava Research, working as a teacher and assistant director of the Master in Design with New Materials. The project she developed during the Master’s was Organic Matters (read more).
Market Ventures: Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape
Eager to bring their ideas to the market, some alumni choose the entrepreneurial route. Together with prototypes developed during their time at MDEF or new ones emerging from the ideas they came up with during the Master’s, they embark on the adventure of launching startups and commercializing innovative solutions.
Consider the example of Roberto Broce, whose passion for sustainable design led him to create surfboards from mycelium. With his dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, Roberto turned his prototype into a project that has the potential to revolutionize the surfing industry. Explore Roberto’s journey here.
Collective Endeavors: Embracing Collaborative Action
For advocates of collective action and community engagement, there is the opportunity of forming a collective. Here, alumni find fulfillment in shaping methodologies, facilitating workshops, and collaborating with like-minded changemakers to create a systemic change.
Such is the Aquí Collective, a group of MDEF graduates committed to cultivating collective agency and weaving solidarity networks to build more resilient communities. They collaborate with citizens, civil society organizations and entities of the social and solidarity economy to foster neighborhoods, communities, and ecosystems ever more healthy, inclusive, and sustainable.
Personal Development: Crafting Hybrid Profiles
Beyond professional pursuits, MDEF greatly nurtures personal development by empowering alumni to embrace the hybridity of their roles as designers. Whether by joining innovation departments in companies or embarking on consultancy roles, MDEF alumni are equipped to become agents of positive transformation.
In essence, MDEF goes beyond the realms of traditional design education, paving the way for a new generation of designers ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. The Master’s program equips alumni with the skills and mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of the design ecosystem with confidence and purpose.
Join our alumni in reimagining the future through the lens of design, where every innovation holds the power to create a brighter tomorrow. Explore MDEF.