Good design matters.

“What’s interesting about this partnership is that the concept didn’t come from a company or corporation. It came from people with passion and expertise about maternity care. They were looking for the best concepts and the best way to serve their population and that is why the design is so strong.”

Through a sponsored studio with UNC, industrial design students were able to visit UNC Medical Center, observing and talking to stakeholders throughout the project – not only mothers, but their family members, nurses, lactation consultants, midwives, and doctors.

College of Design students partnered with Couplet Care, Inc. and UNC Chapel Hill to rethink the postpartum experience, designing a bassinet that removes barriers so parents can stay connected with their babies right after a C-section.

The result? A winning design that earned the Red Dot Design Award.

🗞️ Read the full story on the collaboration resulting in the Couplet Care Bassinet at the News link in our bio.

We’re celebrating 25 years of designing with nature for the next generation. 🌿

The Natural Learning Initiative recently celebrated its 25th anniversary through a two-part event that took a look back on the history of NLI, while simultaneously imagining a step forward. The design community joined us for an exhibition on campus that highlighted decades of impact, plus a family-friendly adventure at Dix Park that explored the future of child-friendly, nature-rich spaces.

Here’s to 25 years of design that connects children, families, and communities to the natural world, and the designers shaping what comes next.

🔗 Learn more about NLI’s work at the link in our bio!

“Technology is without a doubt incredibly cool, but pay more attention to patterns in society and how technology has changed or proliferated them. Those patterns will outlast any shiny new thing that gets built.” 📱💻

Industrial Design alumna Dipali Aphale (BID ’17) is part of the @ibm team recognized with Best AI Solution – Data Insights & Knowledge Management at the 2025 Banking Tech Awards USA.

The winning project, IBM Synthetic Data Sets, uses artificial intelligence to generate realistic, privacy-protected data for safer innovation across industries. The recognition placed IBM alongside some of the biggest names in global finance, but for Aphale, it also marked a personal milestone.

🔗 Read about the accomplishment at the News link in our bio!

“Design is about bridging spaces, people, and experiences to create something meaningful.”

When architecture student Hannah Wright transferred to @ncstate in 2023, she brought with her not just credits, but clarity.

After studying architecture for a year at @novacommunitycollege, Hannah came into the College of Design with a stronger sense of direction and purpose in her work. “Starting over in a new environment wasn’t easy,” she says, “but it taught me to adapt and grow. It opened the door to new opportunities and connections.”

For Hannah, design isn’t just about form or function. It’s about feeling. Her inspiration began through traveling with her family, where she discovered how architecture shapes lives through movement, connection, and emotion. “Buildings can tell stories and leave a lasting impact,” she says. “I want to create spaces that bring comfort, peace and a positive mark on people’s lives.”

Her current passion lies in designing environments that reflect life in motion, especially airports. “Airports are spaces of constant movement and transition that embody these emotions, and I want to design environments that bring comfort and warmth to those moments.”

🔗 Read the full Q&A at the “News” link in our bio.