Interdisciplinary Programs
Northeastern University – Design and Behavioral Neuroscience, BS
An undergraduate (Bachelor of Science) program that integrates cognition, neuroscience, and design principles—teaching students to apply insights from brain science to design data visualizations, interactions, devices, and experiences.
California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Computation and Neural Systems (CNS)
Though primarily focused on neural computation and systems neuroscience for Ph.D. students, the program bridges engineering, computation, and brain models—potentially aligning with design-oriented neural computation.
University of Southern California (USC) – Brain and Creativity Institute
A research institute dedicated to exploring emotions, decision-making, memory, and communication from a neurological perspective—applying that knowledge to solve problems in biomedical and socio-cultural domains.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
A leading research department combining cognitive science, neuroscience, and computation—though not a design program per se, it offers foundational knowledge for design applications.
Research Programs
Stanford University
NeuroDesign Research Lab
A research initiative within Stanford’s Center for Design Research exploring the intersection of neuroscience, cognitive science, anthropology, psychology, and design. It aims to shed light on the cognitive processes that underpin innovative design thinking, as explored in NeuroDesign Research+1. While not a curriculum, it offers graduate-level research opportunities for students interested in the field of design cognition.
https://neurodesign.stanford.edu
Hasso Plattner
Institute of Design
Design-Focused Platforms
The d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design) at Stanford offers immersive design-thinking experiences that unite business, engineering, social sciences, and more—but doesn’t grant its own degrees. It’s a fertile environment for applying cognitive and neuroscience insights in creative design settings. The Center for Design Research similarly fosters research into designer behavior and the design process—a relevant environment for anyone blending design with cognitive science.
Credits & Resources
Recommended Books
Ware, C. (2008). Visual Thinking for Design. Morgan Kaufmann. ISBN-10: 0123708966; ISBN-13: 978-0123708960
Norman, D. A. (2013). The Design of Everyday Things (Revised & expanded ed.). Basic Books. ISBN-13: 978-0465050659
Dehaene, S. (2020). How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine… for Now. Penguin Press. ISBN-10: 0525559884; ISBN-13: 978-0525559887
Bridger, D. (2017). Neuro Design: Neuromarketing Insights to Boost Engagement and Profitability. Kogan Page. ISBN-10: 0749478888; ISBN-13: 978-0749478889
Chatterjee, A. (2015). The Aesthetic Brain: How We Evolved to Desire Beauty and Enjoy Art. Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 978-0190262013
Kandel, E. R. (2012). The Age of Insight: The Quest to Understand the Unconscious in Art, Mind, and Brain. Random House. ISBN-13: 978-1400068715
Kellert, S. R., & Heerwagen, J. H. (2008). Biophilia and Healing Environments: Healthy Principles for Designing the Built World. Island Press. ISBN-13: 978-0470163344
Weinschenk, S. M. (2020). 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People (2nd ed.). New Riders. ISBN-10: 0-13-674691-8; ISBN-13: 978-0136746911
Research Articles
Miller, G. A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two. Psychological Review, 63(2), 81–97.
Ulrich, R. S., et al. (2008). The role of the physical environment in the hospital of the 21st century. The Center for Health Design.
Küller, R., et al. (2006). The impact of light and colour on psychological mood. Ergonomics, 49(14), 1496–1507.
Spence, C., et al. (2014). Store atmospherics: A multisensory perspective. Psychology & Marketing, 31(7), 472–488.
Plassmann, H., et al. (2012). Branding the brain. Journal of Consumer Psychology, 22(1), 18–36.