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Spring 2026 Design Showcase

Join the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation and the Berkeley Master of Design (MDes) program for the Spring 2026 Design Showcase—three days of bold ideas, hands-on prototypes, and design work that pushes boundaries.

From Wednesday through Friday, May 6-8, Jacobs Hall comes alive with projects from Berkeley’s most creative minds. Explore work from Jacobs-hosted design courses and the graduate MDes core curriculum, alongside club initiatives, independent projects, and prototypes from our Spring 2026 Innovation Catalyst grantees—all under one roof.

This is your chance to engage directly with student designers, get behind-the-scenes insight into their creative process, and see how Berkeley is defining the future of human-centered design and emerging technology.

Free. Open to the public. Don’t miss it.

RSVP now to stay in the loop on scheduling and updates:

Register to Attend

Wednesday, May 6th

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

E11: A Hands-on Introduction to Radiation Detection

DES INV 21: Visual Communication & Sketching

DES INV 10: Discovering Design

DES INV 15: Design Methodology

Independent Projects:

  • Toy Modification (Remote Controlled Car)
  • Pioneers In Engineering Game Field & Trophies
  • FlagAlert

 

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

DES INV 23: Creative Programming and Electronics

COMPSCI 294-304: Human-AI interaction

SP26 Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts: Spark Grants

Independent Projects:

  • Botanical
  • Stable Flex
  • Bionic Arm

 

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Makerspace Tour (Meet in the West Entrance to the Makerspace, 1st Floor)

 

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

ME 130: Design of Planar Machinery

ME102B: Mechatronics Design

Independent Projects:

  • UAVs@Berkeley 2025-2026 Competition Vehicles
  • Combat Robots
  • BEAR: Berkeley Emergency Aerial Rescue

 

Thursday, May 7th

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

BIOENG 192: Senior Design Projects

CE 186: Design of IoT for Smart Cities

BMW Projects

Independent Projects:

  • GaitWalker
  • Balancing B.M.O.
  • Sock Slider

 

2:00 PM – 3:30 PM

ENGIN 29: Manufacturing and Design Communication

MECENG 292C / DESINV 190: Human-AI Design Methods

NWMEDIA C203: Critical Making

SP26 Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalysts: Ignite Grants

Independent Projects:

  • Microfluidic Chip for Antibody-Drug Conjugate Manufacturing
  • Geowall 2026 Competition Design
  • Cal Seismic Design Team

 

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

Makerspace Tour (Meet in the West Entrance to the Makerspace, 1st Floor)

 

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

ENGIN 29: Manufacturing and Design Communication

DES INV 22: Prototyping & Fabrication

Independent Projects:

  • Thuderbird
  • Space Technologies at California
  • Malware

 

Friday, May 8th

5:00-6:30 PM

Berkeley Master of Design (MDes) Core Courses

  • DES INV 211: Designing Emerging Technologies
  • DES INV 219: Capstone Portfolio