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College of Design

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

Our Strategic Plan

The College of Design educates students to become innovators and thought leaders while creating a community for designers, researchers, scholars and practitioners. Our vision is to pursue excellence in design education, scholarship and engagement to empower a more just, healthy, resilient, flourishing and sustainable future.

See our plan for 2022-2027 
College of Design Strategic Plan web

Be a part of the Designlife

We’re always up to something – and it’s often amazing. Follow us on instagram to see how we’re living the Designlife.

Follow us on Instagram 

The Brian Shawcroft Prize is awarded every year to a student from the School of Architecture for demonstrating excellence in drawing by hand.

Now in its 29th year, the competition traditionally showcases student submissions in the Brooks Hall Gallery as a running exhibition for students and visitors alike. Stay tuned to see who the 2023 winners will be!

Open
The Brian Shawcroft Prize is awarded every year to a student from the School of Architecture for demonstrating excellence in drawing by hand. Now in its 29th year, the competition traditionally showcases student submissions in the Brooks Hall Gallery as a running exhibition for students and visitors alike. Stay tuned to see who the 2023 winners will be!

🗣 Upcoming Exhibition: "Rooted – Cultural Centricity in Brand Making"

🗓 Friday, September 29
⏰ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
📍 Witherspoon Student Center, Art Gallery, Second Floor | 2810 Cates Ave., Raleigh, NC 27606

Britt Davis, a 2009 College of Design alum and co-founder of LCKR ROOM, will exhibit her work for the NC State African American Cultural Center. Join us for a sneaker ball-themed opening night. Davis` art and artist talk will inspire ways to create from your life experiences and the stories you carry with you.

Born and raised in the artsy city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brittany “Britt” Davis has always been drawn to the arts. From building intricate LEGO sets to drawing sneakers from Eastbay magazine, her childhood was full of creativity and design. Today, Britt’s designs are fueled by creative innovation and driven by the opportunity to use design as a platform to inspire others.

After attending NC State’s Summer Design Camp on campus, Britt decided to pursue a degree in Industrial Design. She earned her Bachelor’s degree, along with the Dean’s Award, Ebony Harlem Design and Nash Winstead Academic Achievement Awards, in 2009, along with a minor in Graphic Design.

While a student at NC State, she participated in the peer mentor program, student ambassador, Design Camp TA, and board member on the Union Activities Board (Marketing Chair), African America Design Student Association (VP), Helping Youth Prepare to Excel (Treasurer), and the Heritage Society. She remains active with the Black Alumni Society, having designed the Homecoming shirts for several years.

She went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her education has brought many professional experiences, including designing for ESPN, Viacom, SB Nation, NASCAR, multiple universities and professional sports teams, athletes and a variety of brands.

Open
🗣 Upcoming Exhibition: "Rooted - Cultural Centricity in Brand Making" 🗓 Friday, September 29 ⏰ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm 📍 Witherspoon Student Center, Art Gallery, Second Floor | 2810 Cates Ave., Raleigh, NC 27606 Britt Davis, a 2009 College of Design alum and co-founder of LCKR ROOM, will exhibit her work for the NC State African American Cultural Center. Join us for a sneaker ball-themed opening night. Davis' art and artist talk will inspire ways to create from your life experiences and the stories you carry with you. Born and raised in the artsy city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Brittany “Britt” Davis has always been drawn to the arts. From building intricate LEGO sets to drawing sneakers from Eastbay magazine, her childhood was full of creativity and design. Today, Britt’s designs are fueled by creative innovation and driven by the opportunity to use design as a platform to inspire others. After attending NC State’s Summer Design Camp on campus, Britt decided to pursue a degree in Industrial Design. She earned her Bachelor’s degree, along with the Dean’s Award, Ebony Harlem Design and Nash Winstead Academic Achievement Awards, in 2009, along with a minor in Graphic Design. While a student at NC State, she participated in the peer mentor program, student ambassador, Design Camp TA, and board member on the Union Activities Board (Marketing Chair), African America Design Student Association (VP), Helping Youth Prepare to Excel (Treasurer), and the Heritage Society. She remains active with the Black Alumni Society, having designed the Homecoming shirts for several years. She went on to earn her Master of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Savannah College of Art and Design. Her education has brought many professional experiences, including designing for ESPN, Viacom, SB Nation, NASCAR, multiple universities and professional sports teams, athletes and a variety of brands.