Design Ambassadors in the College of Design are student leaders who are passionate about collaborating and promoting the design life here at NC State. Their top goal is to provide accurate information about our college and to engage and share their experience with prospective students and their parents, alumni, and industry partners.
Design Ambassadors practice leadership and communication skills with various activities and events throughout the year. From Open House to giving tours through the College of Design, our prospective students and families appreciate learning from Design Ambassadors and their experiences.
Want to learn more about the student’s experience here at the College of Design? Please email design-ambassadors@ncsu.edu to connect with them!
Meet the Design Ambassadors for 2024-2025
Farah Baytam
Major:
Art + Design
Favorite thing about your major?
My favorite thing about my major is the ability to convey meaning and storytelling through images. The beauty of design is that everything is a matter of interpretation. As opposed to many other subjects, there is no right or wrong answer in design which creates room for unique creative expression, and allows the audience to draw their own conclusions regardless if they align with the designer’s intention.
What experience do you identify with?
Transfer, International
Career Aspiration
My greatest aspiration is to play a pivotal role in shaping the Arab Animation Industry. As an Arab, Muslim woman, I aspire to tell the stories of my people by reflecting our cultural values, customs, and themes. It is my intention to create animated stories which resonate with people like me and authentically portray them in a light that is both humorous and informative.
Nimet Betul Karatas
Major:
Art + Design
Minor:
Computer Programming
Favorite thing about your major?
I love having other creative people around you at all times to learn from them. I am beyond grateful for the COD resources: having a studio space with access to laser cutters, the wood & metal shop, cameras/photography studios, various types of printers, and digital labs.
What experience do you identify with?
International, Multicultural, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
My valuable personal goal is to promote mindfulness, calm and optimism through design solutions to overconsumption, overproduction, and overstimulation.
Grace Burrows
Major:
Industrial Design
Minor:
Accounting and Business Administration
Favorite thing about your major?
I love that my ideas are able to come alive digitally or as tangible prototypes. Additionally, I appreciate the exposure we get to other students’ work and creative processes.
What experience do you identify with?
Internships, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
After graduation, I hope I am able to work for a company who designs consumer technology, furniture, or household goods. Ultimately I aspire to blend my passion for design and business and create my own product or product line.
Avery Denton
Major:
Design Studies
Minor:
Business Administration
Favorite thing about your major?
I love Design Studies because it gives students the freedom to explore all aspects of design. My favorite part is being able to balance history and theory classes with more creative application classes.
What experience do you identify with?
Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Art Director at a museum or creative marketing.
Loubett Garza Cuevas
Major:
Art + Design
Favorite thing about your major?
Coming into the College of Design, I was very close-minded and was only focused on my interest in animation. However, I’ve come to appreciate and love all the other aspects of my major such as videogame design, traditional art, soft construction, and even Adobe. I’ve also grown to like critiquing art and sharing my art with my classmates! It has made me a more confident person!
What experience do you identify with?
Multicultural, Scholarships
Career Aspiration
I want to try to work in an animation studio, create stories and help in movies!
Ethan Hall
Major:
Environmental Design in Architecture
Favorite thing about your major?
I enjoy the amount of creativity found within architecture and how it intersect with other aspects of design.
What experience do you identify with?
Internships, Scholarships
Career Aspiration
I look forward to pursuing my architectural license and further developing my understanding of design from school.
Nicholas Hatcher
Major:
Art + Design
Favorite thing about your major?
The collaborative nature of the program allows me to work closely with other designers through exchanging ideas and providing feedback. Exposure to the creative community, my friends and peers inspires me and has reinforced my identity as a designer.
What experience do you identify with?
Internships, Transfer, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Concept artist or environment designer for games and animation.
Tyler Hinson
Major:
Environmental Design in Architecture
Favorite thing about your major?
My favorite part of studying Architecture has been being able to understand conceptual design through the process of 2D and 3D visualization along with the small, tight-knit community you gain along the way.
What experience do you identify with?
Multicultural, Scholarships, Internships
Career Aspiration
My career aspiration is to become a fully licensed architect and work in firms that focus on inclusivity and diverse thinking. I hope to one day be able to become a Principal Architect and run my own firm that focuses on projects that combat social issues for the betterment of our communities.
Jeihan Indrawan
Major:
Industrial Design
Favorite thing about your major?
The versatility of the field and wide range of skills it requires.
What experience do you identify with?
Multicultural, Internships, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Industrial Designer
Hallie Jackson
Major:
Design Studies
Favorite thing about your major?
The versatility in being a Design Studies student can’t be beat. I have been able to explore so many different areas of design theory and history, giving me more confidence as I get closer to embarking on the world of design!
What experience do you identify with?
LGBTQIA+, Scholarships
Career Aspiration
Stage/Set/Spatial Design
Brady Klein
Major:
Industrial Design
Favorite thing about your major?
I love the creative freedom that comes with the prompts for each project, along with how the professors teach you everything from the beginning of your educational career!
What experience do you identify with?
Out-of-State, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Product Designer
Chloe Loflin
Major:
Graphic & Experience Design
Minor:
Business Administration
Favorite thing about your major?
I really enjoy that Graphic & Experience let’s you start getting professional experiences from the moment you start your major specific courses. The ability to work closely with NC State and Marbles Kids Museum on projects that actually get made or used while having people to guide you has been really insightful.
What experience do you identify with?
LGBTQIA+, Multicultural
Career Aspiration
I want to work as a UX designer in the DC Metro Area at some point after I graduate and possibly pursue a Master’s degree.
Abby Lundergan
Major:
Architecture
Minor:
Landscape Architecture and Environmental Science
Favorite thing about your major?
Architecture is a synthesis of many fields; allowing for community building, cultural preservation, environmental protection, and design exploration. Especially during my time at NC State, I have experienced the ability of architecture to empower communities and revitalize our landscapes.
What experience do you identify with?
Internships, Scholarships, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Architecture Professor and Practitioner
Lizzy Novelli
Major:
Design Studies
Minor:
Business Administration
Favorite thing about your major?
My favorite thing about design studies is the ability to explore different parts of design in my classes. There is freedom to research a variety of methods, practices, and ideas related to design to satisfy a certain problem or project.
What experience do you identify with?
Multicultural, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Marketing or Advertising
Siena Rohrbach
Major:
Graphic & Experience Design
Minor:
Psychology
Favorite thing about your major?
My favorite thing about my major is collaborating with my classmates and outside companies. It gives me a good taste of what it would be like to actually work in the field and work with others. I believe that good design is impossible without appropriate collaboration.
What experience do you identify with?
Out-of-State, LGBTQIA+, Internships
Career Aspiration
Outdoor Graphic Design and Teaching
Lara Salazar-Casajus
Major:
Industrial Design
Minor:
Environmental Science
Favorite thing about your major?
I enjoy being in a major that combines creativity with problem-solving. It is great to prototype and bring ideas to life while sharing a space with other innovative minds in the studio.
What experience do you identify with?
International, Multicultural, Out-of-State, Study Abroad
Career Aspiration
Industrial Designer
Kinsley Stevens
Major:
Architecture
Favorite thing about your major?
My favorite thing about the College of Design is meeting people with such a wide variety of talents! Everyone has a place here and it has been so rewarding to watch others as well as myself find our niches in this community.
What experience do you identify with?
Internships, Scholarships, Transfer
Gargi Wadodkar
Major:
Environmental Design in Architecture
Favorite thing about your major?
I enjoy the learning and application of designing architecture. There are amazing people that I’ve met. College resource’s and professor’s give you are a great stepping stone for a future in architecture or other design field’s. I love pushing myself to create interesting projects that have the potential for a larger impact; seeing how architecture is more than just designing and building, but also a way for community growth, sustainability, and equity enhancement.
What experience do you identify with?
Honors/Scholars, Multicultural, Study Abroad, Transfer
Career Aspiration
Practicing Architecture and Adjunct Professor
