The College of Design encourages faculty and students to engage in problem-focused research and outreach. The college's research and outreach units include centers, laboratories, museums, consortia, and institutes of regional, national and international importance. These learning communities focus on providing innovative solutions to design problems, cutting-edge information to their constituencies, and thought-provoking opportunities for student service learning.

College-wide Research & Outreach Units

• Center for Changing Landscapes
• Center for Sustainable Building Research
• Center for World Heritage Studies
• Design Institute
• Goldstein Museum of Design
• Metropolitan Design Center

Departmental Research & Outreach Units within the College

• By Design
• Human Dimensioning Laboratory
• InformeDesign
• Midwest Universities Radon Consortium

Interdisciplinary Research and Outreach Units with College Affiliation

• Buckman Fellowship Program for Leadership in Philanthropy
• Center for Rural Design
• Digital Design Consortium
• Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
• University of Minnesota Extension Service