From the Dean
Find out what it means to live a life of design by exploring our website.
Your visit to this website is a first step in crafting your education and career. That education and career will have a big impact on your life. It will shape how you think, who you meet, how you spend your time, where you live. It will be deeply rewarding and equally challenging. It will require the best you have to offer and enrich your life and the lives of those you serve.
The college is here to help you begin your journey in the design life. Our highly ranked programs not only teach professional excellence, but also help you learn important life skills, such as teamwork, collaboration, creative inquiry, crafting and making, and research. In short, you will learn to balance intuition with evidence as you design solutions to the confounding challenges we face.
We offer degrees in Architecture, Graphic & Experience Design, Industrial Design, Media Arts, Design and Technology, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, and Design Studies and have focused applications in the built environment, product design, textile and fiber design, user experience, animation and multimedia, as well as creative practice through the exploration of mediums, composition, and storytelling. All ideas start with design thinking, which is a process that takes a human-centered approach to problem-solving.
No matter what degree program you choose, our faculty and staff are here to support you and provide a safe place for you to experiment, learn from mistakes, and begin your life in design.
So once again, welcome and here’s to great design!
Mark Elison Hoversten, PhD, FASLA, FCELA, AICP, Assoc. AIA
"This journey has never been a solo one."
Meet Valerie Ryba, who will be walking the stage with the designers of #NCState25 this week to receive her Bachelor of Architecture. 🎓❤️
"I came to architecture through the stories of my parents, who grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Hearing and seeing the housing conditions they experienced opened my eyes to the way entire communities can be left behind by systems meant to serve them. I saw architecture as a way to change that — to create spaces rooted in dignity, safety, and beauty for people who are too often overlooked.
Over time, my understanding of design deepened. I began to see the nuance — the tradeoffs, the complexity, and most importantly, the value of listening. That clarity was reignited in my current studio with Matt Griffith, whose approach to design — thoughtful, patient, and deeply human — reminded me why I fell in love with this work in the first place. It’s not just about building; it’s about creating meaningful, functional spaces that improve people’s lives.
This journey has never been a solo one. At NC State, I’ve been surrounded by incredible opportunities and communities that have shaped me. One of the most transformative experiences was pursuing the Outdoor Leadership Minor. The instructors and peers I met through that program helped me grow both personally and professionally. They taught me how to lead, how to listen, and how the outdoor world and the built world can inform and enrich one another.
The Caldwell Fellows program has been another grounding force. Through its emphasis on reflection, authenticity, and servant leadership, I’ve learned to move through this world with greater intentionality. The Caldwell community —students, mentors, and alumni — has offered me perspective and support through both uncertainty and growth.
Finally, I owe everything to the people who’ve walked beside me. To my family, whose sacrifices made this journey possible. To my friends, who reminded me to laugh and breathe. And to my partner, George — thank you. Your steady belief in me, especially on the hardest days, carried me through. You’ve been my rock and my joy."
We’re mourning the loss of Professor Vince Foote — a legendary designer, mentor, and educator whose 40-year teaching career at NC State shaped generations of design thinkers.
Vince wasn’t just an outstanding teacher (though he had the awards to prove it). He was a force — hilarious, unshakable, and deeply invested in the success of his students.
As Professor Audrey Barnes put it: “He empowered generations of NC State design students to believe that not only we could be, but that we should be the leaders of the future. That our ideas mattered regardless of who we were or where we came from.”
To Vince, students weren’t just learners — they were his legacy. As he liked to say, “You are my portfolio.”
And his portfolio? It’s full of bold thinkers, mavericks, educators, leaders and friends who carry his lessons with them every day.
We invite our community to read more about Vince’s life and lasting impact at the News link in our bio. And if you`re ever near Player’s Retreat, raise a glass for him.
This year, Art2Wear reimagined what a fashion show could be — trading the traditional runway for something far more intimate, experimental and alive.
In its 24th year, Art2Wear: Revive transformed @ncstategreggmuseum into a living, breathing showcase of wearable art. Designers imagined their models and looks as stationary exhibits, inviting the audience to slow down, look closer and truly engage with the stories embedded in every stitch, seam and silhouette.
Each room was a portal into the minds of NC State student designers — a series of distinct visions tied together by a shared spirit of innovation and craft. From intricate handwork and sustainable practices to cutting-edge materials and boundary-pushing silhouettes, every piece reflected what it means to revive: to question, reimagine, and give new life to ideas through design.
Art2Wear is more than a show — it`s a platform for future thinkers to challenge convention and connect with the community. Thank you to everyone who made this year’s event unforgettable.
Hi CoD! Check out the Instagram story on this account all day today for behind-the-scenes updates and content! Check out the @ncsuart2wear bio or at linker.ee/art2wear2025 for tickets, we still have tickets for the 9:00 pm show! Join us for a night of performance art, music, and mocktails! #art2wear
