Research Initiatives

Research initiatives at the Harvard Graduate School of Design serve as dynamic platforms for exploring pressing global issues through the lens of design. These initiatives are often interdisciplinary in nature, bridging architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and design studies with fields such as environmental studies, sociology, engineering, and other advanced research disciplines. The research initiatives at the GSD often bring the work of faculty, students, and affiliates at the school into collaborations with leaders across Harvard and other academic institutions, with the aim of advancing knowledge and harnessing the power of new technologies for social good.

Current Initiatives

Aga Khan Program at the GSD

The Aga Khan Program is part of the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard and MIT, dedicated to the study of Islamic art and architecture, urbanism, landscape design and conservation. The GSD is invested in the application of that knowledge to contemporary design issues.

 Learn more

Clay Storming with Anna Heringer.

Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative

Led by Eve Blau and Bruno Carvalho, this project seeks to expand understanding about urban life, social and political structures, design, and history across diverse sites and scales.

Visit website

View of industrial urban area at sunset.

Laboratory for Design Technology (LDT)

Technology is accelerating profound changes throughout society, affecting everything we do—how we live, work, produce, build, and think. To advance our understanding of how design technologies can improve the human condition, the GSD has established the Laboratory for Design Technologies (LDT). 

Learn more

A snapshot from Air Travel Design Guide, illustrating artifacts, spaces, and systems that impact the passenger experience in travel.

Past Initiatives

Health and Places Initiative

This multi-year project investigated the scope and possibilities for creating healthier places in the future, with an emphasis on China, and the approaches to implement. It was led by Ann Forsyth.