Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation

Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation UC Berkeley’s interdisciplinary hub for learning and making at the intersection of design and tech

The Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation is Berkeley’s interdisciplinary hub for learning and making at the intersection of design and technology. We empower you with a place to explore, a place to connect and a place to learn the way you learn best – by doing. We welcome anyone – artists, engineers, game-changers – who wants to create, play and experiment. Whether you’re new to design or know e

xactly what you want to invent next, you’ll find a like-minded community of hands-on enthusiasts here. We offer courses, extracurricular programs, makerspaces and labs, and resources for all things design.

Swipe through this season’s deep Design Field Notes lineup.
9 talks, 11 speakers… one very full semester of ideas.🧠
Firs...
09/04/2026

Swipe through this season’s deep Design Field Notes lineup.
9 talks, 11 speakers… one very full semester of ideas.🧠

First up: Tania Ketenjian & Philip Wood, this Tuesday 9/8 at 5:30 PM.

Free & open to the public. Tuesdays at 5:30 pm, Jacobs Hall, 3rd floor.

See 🔗 in bio and follow 
https://luma.com/DesignFieldNotes




Introducing the 2026 Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars! 🛠️✨
Swipe through to meet this summer’s cohort — seven underg...
08/05/2026

Introducing the 2026 Berkeley Engineering Design Scholars! 🛠️✨

Swipe through to meet this summer’s cohort — seven undergrads spending their summer deep in engineering design research, prototyping, and learning from Engineering faculty & PhD mentors.

From bio-mechanics to bio-inspired robotics, HCI to microfluidics — this crew has been busy. 👀

Ash • Christy • Kate • Madison • Sam • Yumi • Yunosuke 🙌

📅 Come see what they’ve built! Join us for the Poster Exhibition THIS FRIDAY, August 7th, 12–1 PM in 310 Jacobs Hall. Link in bio to RSVP 🔗

 
 


🚀Meet the Spring 2026 Innovation Catalyst Cohort!We are beyond excited to introduce this semester’s grantees: 11 project...
05/04/2026

🚀Meet the Spring 2026 Innovation Catalyst Cohort!

We are beyond excited to introduce this semester’s grantees: 11 projects and 31 students pushing the boundaries of design and technology. From ambitious undergraduates to pioneering PhDs, this cohort represents the best of Berkeley’s creative intelligence.

This year, we’ve awarded:
6 Ignite Grants ($2000) scaling high-impact, advanced ventures.
5 Spark Grants ($500) driving fresh, early-stage concepts.

Watch these teams as they debut their prototypes and breakthroughs at the Jacobs Spring Design Showcase on May 6th-8th @ Jacobs Hall.

Applications for the Fall 2026 Cohort are now open! Apply by Monday, July 20th, 9AM PST.

Applications are officially OPEN for the Fall 2026 Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalyst grant program! 🚀We invite Berkel...
04/21/2026

Applications are officially OPEN for the Fall 2026 Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalyst grant program! 🚀

We invite Berkeley students from every major to submit project proposals they are passionate about developing this upcoming semester. Whether you’re prototyping a new gadget or designing a community solution, this is your chance to take your vision to the next level.

Why apply?

Funding: Receive up to $2,000 to bring your ambitions to life.

Resources: Gain access to the full suite of Jacobs Institute tools and expertise.

Community: Join a collaborative cohort of fellow student innovators.

Ready to build something meaningful? Attend an upcoming info session to get your questions answered.

🔗 Check the link in our bio for full application details, deadlines, and info session RSVPs!

* Info Session: Friday, April 24th • 11:00am - 12:00pm PT

The Jacobs Spring Design Showcase is almost here! Join us May 6th–8th at Jacobs Hall to celebrate a semester’s worth of ...
04/21/2026

The Jacobs Spring Design Showcase is almost here! Join us May 6th–8th at Jacobs Hall to celebrate a semester’s worth of creativity, innovation, and hands-on making.

Check out student projects, tour the Makerspace, and connect with the next generation of designers shaping the future across engineering, art, and technology. Free and open to all!

From Mechatronics Design and Design of IoT for Smart Cities to Human-AI Interaction and MDes Capstone presentations — there’s something for everyone!

Click the link in our bio to RSVP!


Our last lecture of the season features Johanna Hoffman, an urbanist working at the intersection of design, planning, ...
04/07/2026

Our last lecture of the season features Johanna Hoffman, an urbanist working at the intersection of design, planning, fiction, and futures.

Johanna is the founder of Design for Adaptation, where she partners with communities, cities, and organizations to explore potential futures and design strategies for resilience and change.

She holds an MLA in landscape architecture and environmental planning from UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!) and has been a fellow at institutions including the Berggruen Institute, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, USC, and the European Futures Observatory.

See you tomorrow eve, Tuesday 4/7 @6:30 PM! RSVP via link in bio.

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2530 Ridge Road
Berkeley, CA
94709

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