Autonomous Practice: Extraordinary Products. Taking advantage of MICA's culture of critical inquiry through making, the curriculum is linked to the local maker movement, entrepreneurship clusters, business model innovation, new urban means of smart production and fabrication, community-driven niche markets, high-quality, ultra-sustainable products and more.

Social Practice: Social Innovation. Benefitting from Baltimore's urban complexity and taking advantage of its current social challenges, the curriculum focuses on products with a high social impact and a changed predisposition to addressing pressing social inequalities. Whether physical, digital, or experiential, solutions will support making Baltimore a better place to live, learn, work, and thrive.

Market-Driven Practice: Products for Mass Consumption. Embedded in the professional aspect of product design, the curriculum is connected to the local and global design community of practitioners, companies, start-ups, and organizations that develop market-driven products. This includes world renowned companies headquartered in the Baltimore area such as Stanley Black & Decker, Under Armour, and STX along with regional and national companies that are looking for future focused designers such as P&G, Emeco, MIT Media Lab, Cumulus, and more.