In 1996, the Ministry of Industry & Energy founded the International Design School for Advanced Studies (IDAS) as the first professional graduate school of industrial design. Its mission is to produce world-class professional designers implementing a new education model focused on creativity and practice.

In December 1998, IDAS launched the New Millennium Course – Design Innovation for Policy Makers to establish design knowledge and disseminate design awareness in society. Due to this course, leaders such as CEO's in companies, high ranking officials in government, and celebrities in culture and art, have made innovations by adapting design concepts to their organizations and systems.

The alumni founded IDAS Korea and set the IDAS (Intellect and Design as Assets for the future Society) Movement, and have even changed their organizations, products and services, and have achieved corresponding fruitful results.

Furthermore, IDAS launched the New Vision Course-Design Innovation for Executives in 2001 to stimulate design as a core resource of business and management.

Now IDAS has fortified it's programs by offering Master’s programs in product design, digital media design, and design management, and also a Ph.D. program in design.

The government designated within IDAS the first Design Innovation Center in 1999, and the International Design Trend Center in 2001. These design centers have carried out diverse research projects and held various training programs on design trends, technology, materials and user experience.