Alumni Experience

Mar 5, 2026

Emeritus Professor Austin Lowrey Passes Away at 93

Emeritus Professor Austin Lowrey passed away on February 20, 2026. Austin was hired by the College of Design to develop “visual design” offerings in the Bachelor of Product Design program in the 1970s and continued as a pivotal member of the graphic design faculty from the department’s inception in 1991 until his retirement in 1999.

Four IBM team members hold an award in formal wear

Oct 15, 2025

NC State Design Alumna Honored for Role in Award-Winning IBM AI Innovation

Industrial Design alumna Dipali Aphale (’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.

Sep 18, 2025

A Creative Compass: How Ben Marsigli Brings Collegiate Spirit into the Apparel Market

Ben Marsigli, creative director at Rhoback, shares how his time as a design studies major prepared him to create apparel for the brand, including an NC State collection.

Jun 3, 2025

Meet the newest members of the College of Design Leaders Council for 2025

The College of Design is excited to welcome six new members to its Leaders Council. Established in 2010, the Leaders Council of the NC State College of Design is a select group of alumni and friends in design-related professions across the country.

Demarcus Williams with College of Design Brooks Hall sign

Mar 19, 2025

Demarcus Williams ‘03 Creates Scholarship in Kermit Bailey’s Honor

Demarcus Williams [BGD '03] embodies the NC State spirit of think and do – driven, passionate and committed to giving back. His journey from an undergraduate student navigating college life to a successful marketing and communications professional was supported by a host of faculty in the graphic design program, particularly Kermit Bailey. Now, Williams is establishing a scholarship in Bailey's name, hoping to provide the same support he received to future generations of designers.

Mar 13, 2025

Two Graphic Design Students Featured on GDUSA’s Students to Watch List

Two students from the college's graphic and experience design program are making their mark on the industry. Megan Mersch is blending artistry with human-centered design to craft seamless digital experiences, while Rebecca Planchart is shaping the future of UX and AI, using design to bridge gaps in public health, government, and emerging technology. Meet GDUSA’s Students to Watch and see how they’re redefining what design can do.

Roooted: the Embrace of Earth + Water Maggie Kroening - North Carolina State University

Jan 15, 2025

School of Architecture Students and Faculty Win Statewide Awards for Design

Eight student teams were recognized at the American Institute of Architects North Carolina Design and Chapter Awards. The School of Architecture was also recognized for teaching excellence through its Educator of the Year, Kamphoefner Prize, F. Carter Williams Gold Medal and Associate Award.

Jan 7, 2025

NC State Creatives: Tatiana Veloso

To Tatiana Veloso, design has a powerful ability to connect individuals to each other and to the places they inhabit. A 2024 graduate of the Master of Landscape Architecture program, her work bridges the gap between art, science, and community engagement.

Nov 22, 2024

NC State Creatives: Lauren Miller

Lauren Miller, a recent graduate of NC State's College of Design, is an award-winning animator and storyteller. Her animated short Touch won 'Best of the Fest' at the Queer Expressions Film Festival. With a passion for human-centered design and uplifting underrepresented communities, Lauren creates work that resonates with diverse audiences.

Oct 21, 2024

College of Design Chooses Matt Checkowski ‘98 as 2024 Distinguished Alumnus

The College of Design is proud to recognize Matt Checkowski [BGD ‘98] as this year’s distinguished alumnus. Checkowski, vice president of multisensory brand innovation and strategy at Mastercard, will be honored at the Wolfpack Boards Luncheon in October and serve as the College of Design spring 2025 commencement speaker. Matt Checkowski’s work explores the intersections of design, narrative and technology, working across boundaries to elevate and expand storytelling.

People standing in water-flooded path next to pole markers

Sep 25, 2024

Memorializing Flooding: How a Chance Collaboration Led to a Landmark Public Art Project

In the world of design and public art, serendipity often plays a pivotal role. This was certainly the case for a group of designers and artists who, after initially crossing paths in the College of Design, found themselves working together years later on a significant public art project in Raleigh. This project, which began as an educational initiative, ultimately evolved into a large-scale installation that engages the community on multiple levels.

A rendering of Danny Wang's project "micro-mobility" with an overlayed portrait of the designer in the image.

Sep 3, 2024

Recent Grad Brings Home 2024 IDSA Student Merit Award

Industrial Design alumnus Danny Wang [BID '24] recently won the IDSA Student Merit Award for the South District. This means Danny will compete at the International Design Conference & Education Symposium in Austin, Texas September 11-13 for the national award.

Thumbnail preview for Marc Russo's on the run animation

Aug 15, 2024

“A remix of Pink Floyd, 2001 Space Odyssey and Akira” – Faculty member enters Pink Floyd animation competition

Marc Russo can distinctly remember one of his first introductions to Pink Floyd. He was sitting on the front steps of his friend’s house in 1980, listening to “The Wall”, and he was 11 years old. “It was like a battle cry,” he says. “I didn’t understand much more of the album, but I was connected to this song.” 44 years after that first encounter, Russo, alumnus and associate professor of media arts, design and technology, is connecting his love of Pink Floyd with his professional work in a different way - designing an animation as entry for a contest hosted by the band to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their release of “Dark Side of the Moon.”

A black woman holds a baby while women braid her hair

Jul 16, 2024

Crowning Glory: Industrial Design Alumna Featured at CAM

Samantha Everette's love for photography began while studying abroad in Ghana as an industrial design student. Equipped for the first time with a semi-professional camera, she immediately experienced the joy of capturing portraits of people and their culture. Now, her work is making waves in the Triangle's creative community.

NC Historic Resilience Primer. Photo courtesy of Coastal Dynamics Design Lab.

Jun 18, 2024

College of Design Students and Faculty Win Awards at NCASLA

Students, faculty and alumni attended the NCASLA Conference in Asheville, receiving multiple awards and presenting to professionals from across the state. The Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning sponsored fourteen Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) students in the College of Design to attend the event.

Apr 2, 2024

NC State Alum Bridges Cultures through Graphic Design

Harnessing her creativity in design and typography, Blair Richardson, a graduate of the graphic design program at NC State, has connected cultures worldwide throughout her successful career. She has lent her design and typography skills to countless clients and projects, from cookbooks to museum exhibitions.

The Longleaf Hotel Illustration, Raleigh, NC.

Feb 8, 2024

Reshaping Raleigh: Environmental Designer Brings Iconic Spaces to Life

Alumnus Joshua Gajownik '04 thought he wanted to be an aerospace engineer. Now, 20 years on, the College of Design graduate is a successful practicing environmental designer. He touches every single detail of the properties he works on, from the branding to the furniture selections, even down to the in-room art.

Dare Coulter in front of book illustration

Jan 25, 2024

Alumna Dare Coulter wins 2024 Coretta Scott King Book Award

Alumna Dare Coulter [Art + Design '15], illustrator of “An American Story,” is one of two winners of the 2024 Coretta Scott King Book Awards honoring African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books for children and young adults.

Traces: Palmovka Jewish Center and Library Maggie Kroening - North Carolina State University

Jan 17, 2024

NC State Students and Alumni Win Numerous AIANC Design Awards

Each year, the American Institute of Architects North Carolina Chapter (AIANC) recognizes design that exceeds the benchmarks for outstanding architectural design, structural composition and application of design theory. Over 140 projects were submitted to this year's program, with 24 awarded. The College of Design at NC State University had numerous winners recognized, including five student entries, AIA NC Educator of the Year, and the F. Carter Williams Gold Medalist.

Dec 7, 2023

Alum Featured In New Exhibition at MoMA-NYC

NC State graduate Ralph Knowles' dedication to environmentalism through architecture has helped influence dozens of works on display at the new Museum of Modern Art Exhibit, "Emerging Ecologies."

students Diego Renau and Amore Allen showcase their work during DesignBlok.

Nov 7, 2023

An International Footprint: Celebrating Prague’s Past and Future

The College of Design brought its 75th anniversary celebration to Prague to connect with past alumni of the program and discuss the future of its global footprint. During five days in early October, College of Design alumni, NC State University leadership, and current study abroad students were able to connect around DesignBlok, the largest design and fashion expo in Central and Eastern Europe.

Oct 3, 2023

First Speaker Named for Architecture Endowed Lecture Series

Carol Wilson, a two-time NC State alumna, has been announced as the first speaker for a new architecture lecture series endowed in honor of Roger Clark. Wilson is an architect based in Maine. She owns a small firm that primarily focuses on residential work, and her creativity can be seen in buildings as far as New York and Soho.

Mary Hauser prepares for the Halloween Bash at the College of Design alongside fellow students.

Jul 7, 2023

Back to the Pack: Mary Hauser

Mary Hauser is the Associate Director and Registrar at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design. Hauser earned her Bachelor of Industrial Design in 2001, and her Master of Industrial Design in 2004 at the College of Design. She shared her story from her time as a student to her time with NC State as a professional in the second installment of Back to the Pack.

Portrait of Luna Vanaman in front of Leazar Hall at NC State.

Jun 23, 2023

Back to the Pack: Luna Vanaman

Luna Vanaman earned her Bachelor of Industrial Design from the College of Design in 2000, and currently works as the lead interactive media producer for NC State University's Communications Office. She shared her story from her time as a student to her time with NC State as a professional as part of our new series, Back to the Pack.

Jun 13, 2023

Exploring our Spaces

Explore the history of the buildings that have housed students from the College of Design since its inception.

Brooks Hall at NC State's College of Design, with an old postcard depicting the building during the 1920s.

May 30, 2023

Celebrating Our 75th Birthday Through Community and Collaboration

The online 75th birthday celebration for the NC State College of Design was filled with nostalgia, joy and connection with the institution's rich legacy. Throughout the day, alumni and community partners took to social media to share their recollections of the college.

Photos showcasing Art2Wear's 20+ year history

May 25, 2023

Art2Wear: A Tradition of Showcasing Wearable Art

Art2Wear — one of the largest student-run productions of its kind in the Southeast — has become a highly anticipated annual wearable art showcase. But the first one was a small, grassroots production. It started in a fibers and surface design studio in 2002, where Vita Plume — then an assistant professor of art + design, who retired as an associate professor in 2012 — taught textile techniques such as weaving, knitting and dyeing cloth.

Art Clement sits in the back row of the NC State Men's Track and Field team in 1967. He went on to become the first African American student to graduate from the School of Design in 1971.

May 24, 2023

College of Design’s First African American Graduate Offers Perspective, Wisdom

Art Clement decided he would be an architect in the sixth grade, after learning about Frank Lloyd Wright and his Guggenheim Museum. Seven years later, he enrolled in NC State in 1966, part of the first wave of African American students attending the university. He began studying architecture in what was then called the School of Design. No one in the school looked like him, but he was committed to completing the five-year program.

Elizabeth Lee article in the Fayetteville Observer from December 30, 1985

May 22, 2023

Shattering Glass Ceilings To Shape a Modern World

Under a new dean and a new curriculum, Elizabeth Bobbit Lee thrived as the sole female graduate in a class full of men, even as she set the mold for a life well lived.

Students working at drafting tables in the College of Design, circa 1955

May 20, 2023

The Class That Started It All

The students who graduated from the School of Design in the spring of 1953 were the first to complete the new school’s five-year course load. Their commitment set the pace for everything that came after.

Apr 26, 2023

Celebrating Alumni + Friends Weekend and the Designlife Gala

The College of Design celebrated Alumni + Friends Weekend and the Designlife Gala on April 21-22, 2023. The college was delighted to see so many friendly faces back on campus, touring our studios, and connecting with former classmates and colleagues at the reunions by the decade. The weekend's events culminated with the Designlife Gala at the JC Raulston Arboretum on Saturday night.

Mar 27, 2023

Envisioning a Better World with Design

John and Tracy Martin believe that higher education is the greatest path to equity in our society, and they wanted to create a scholarship that reflected that. John vowed that he would one day give back to the institution that had given him so much.

Mar 6, 2023

2023 Winners of the Designlife Award

To celebrate the college’s 75th anniversary, Dean Hoversten chose to award two significant Designlife awards – one to signify a lifetime of achievement, and one to honor a new and emerging professional. Both awardees are alumni of the college, which had a formative impact on their career trajectories. Two individuals will be recognized for their unique contributions to the profession. Edwin F. “Abie” Harris [B.Arch. ‘57], artist and former university architect for NC State, and J. Stacy Utley [BEDA ‘01, B.Arch. ‘06], public artist and educator, embody significant contributions to the College of Design, their respective professions, and the design profession.

Feb 3, 2023

Joy and Pain

Artist Dare Coulter ’15 depicts both in a new picture book about the trauma of slavery.

Jan 13, 2023

Alumna Abigail Happel Featured in Madame Architect

Abby Happel [BEDA '22] pursued her undergraduate degree in architecture at NC State's College of Design. She is interested in the study of biophilic design principles and their influence on human health and the environment. She recently spoke with Madame Architect on studio culture, transparency and embracing complexity.

Turan Duda at the 2022 College of Design Leaders Council Meeting

Nov 21, 2022

Turan Duda, FAIA Receives NC State’s Distinguished Alumni Award

As an internationally renowned architect, Turan has designed notable regional, national and international projects including the North Carolina State University Talley Student Union, 405 Colorado in Austin, the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, and Ikon Tower in Monterrey, Mexico.

collage of student and alumni winners from AIA NC

Nov 14, 2022

Faculty, Students and Alumni Win AIA NC Design Awards

Faculty, students and alumni were the recipients of numerous design awards from AIA NC.

Nov 11, 2022

Duda Traveling Fellowship Offers New Perspectives on Latin American Architecture

Architecture graduates Anusha Khansaheb and Caroline Anderson recently returned from a research expedition to four Latin American cities. Together, they addressed the impact of architecture in a post-colonial landscape, and how unique identities tie into how these cities develop.

Home designed by Harry Bates of Bates / Masi

Nov 7, 2022

Harry Bates, Modernist Architect of Long Island Homes, Dies at 95

Withstanding “a tsunami of shingles” on houses going up on the East End, he stuck to an aesthetic of clean, elegant lines and simple materials.

Oct 11, 2022

Putting the user first: two alums explore how their heritages shaped their work as UX designers

We took time to sit down with two graduates of the Master’s of Graphic Design program, Laura Rodriguez [MGD ‘11] and Luis Zapata [BID ‘11, MGD ‘17] to ask them about their experiences as students, as well as how their cultural identity has shaped their careers.

Oct 4, 2022

Uniting Design and Art

The North Carolina Museum of Art’s rebranding efforts encapsulate the museum’s collection through leading efforts by two College of Design alumnae. Christin Hardy and her colleague Allison Maslow are both graduates of the graphic design program at NC State, and their education has been formative in the current rebranding efforts for the NCMA.

Sep 15, 2022

Meet our newest members: College of Design Leaders Council

The College of Design is excited to welcome four new members to its Leaders Council. Members of the Leaders Council support the college’s strategic direction, assist in securing financial resources to achieve its long-range goals and actively advocate for the college’s vision to become the leading public interdisciplinary design college in the country.

3D-printed ceramic items sit on a shelf in Shawn Protz's ceramics lab

Jun 27, 2022

2022 Designlife Magazine

Read about the people and activities featured in the 2022 issue of Designlife Magazine.

Jun 2, 2022

Jennifer Peavey Plans to Back the Pack Forever

Through a special legacy gift, this NC State alumna hopes to provide professors in the College of Design with the resources to think and do ad infinitum.

Jun 2, 2022

Brian Leonard Believes in Design That Improves Lives

Industrial designer Brian Leonard often finds himself in debates about form versus function. But rather than focusing on how something looks, he’s more concerned with how design can benefit people now and in the future.

Mark Templeton speaking at the Fall 2021 NC State Commencement Ceremony

May 31, 2022

Mark Templeton Wants You to Think Outside the Box

College of Design alumnus Mark Templeton, NC State’s fall 2021 commencement speaker, crowned a storied career several years ago by retiring as CEO of Citrix, a multibillion-dollar software company.

May 31, 2022

It All Adds Up: Alumnus Doug Bennett Reflects on a Lifetime of Giving

Doug Bennett attended the College of Design during an “explosive period” in our nation’s history, starting in 1965 and graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1970. Throughout his time in the school, he was able to serve as the business manager on the Student Publication, and that was his first foray into philanthropy. After graduating, he served in the U.S. Navy, and started a lifetime of giving. Bennett likened his continuous giving to a habit. He started giving, initially, modest donations to the College of Design and kept up with annual donations ever since.

May 31, 2022

Honoring Faculty: Pat Rand Initiates Roger Clark Architecture Speaker Support Endowment

In honor of the outstanding and enduring teaching of Roger Clark, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Architecture Pat Rand has created the Roger Clark Architecture Speaker Support Endowment. This annual lecture will allow the School of Architecture to bring leading professionals and architectural educators to campus to present architectural topics relevant to students’ future careers.

May 18, 2022

Celebrating Another Successful Day of Giving

The College of Design celebrated another successful Day of Giving on March 23, 2022 thanks to the generous gifts of donors, alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends, all of whom believe in the importance of design education. Thanks to your support, the college was able to raise $474,885 from 373 gifts, exceeding last year’s 309 gifts by 21%.

Stats from the Designlife magazine. $23,173,190 dollars raised between 2017-2021. $7.4 million in planned gifts during the campaign. 160% increase in endowment, growing to $15.2 million. 65% of the design endowment goes to student support. 90% increase in scholarships awarded since 2016-2017. 89% of campaign gifts were less than $25,000.

May 10, 2022

Celebrating the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign

Thanks to the generous support of our donors who contributed to the Think and Do the Extraordinary Campaign, we have been able to make tremendous strides in the last five years. Because of you, we can look ahead to our future. We’re able to consider the next 75 years of design education and shape another seven decades of designers.