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master of graphic and experience design student works on computer

Jul 6, 2023

Ready for the Turning Point

In the century since the term was coined, graphic design has continued to redefine itself in the face of both technological and cultural changes – whether that’s the birth of the desktop computer in the early nineties or the emergence of artificial intelligence image generators like DALL-E in the early 2020s. As such, graphic design at NC State has also been one of continual redefinition, at the forefront of emerging practices.

Susan Toplikar with her husband, Mike Cindric in 1996. Photo courtesy Design Dimension.

Jun 30, 2023

A Continuing Legacy: Susan Toplikar Fund Connects Students to Professionals

Through a fund named after one of the College of Design's most missed instructors, students are gaining the opportunity to build new meaningful relationships with professionals across the Triangle.

Kristen Schaffer flips through the archives as part of the NC State Libraries special collections

Jun 29, 2023

Sifting Through the Past

Associate Professor of Architecture Kristen Schaffer shares her experience of sorting through the archives as part of the research related to the College of Design's 75th anniversary.

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.

Bachelor of Architecture final project studio review, 2016. Photo credit: Pat Rand.

Jun 21, 2023

Architecture: Then and Now

Dean Kamphoefner displayed a clear vision to establish in only a few years an institution of national and international prominence. He used all means available to him, including the curriculum, faculty and student selections and negotiations for university resources, to achieve this goal. Explore the history of the architecture program to see how Kamphoefner implemented his vision.

Jun 15, 2023

Chuck Flink Recognized as One of ASLA’s 2023 Awardees with LaGasse Medal

Charles A. “Chuck” Flink, FASLA is the 2023 recipient of the LaGasse Medal, named for Alfred B. LaGasse, past executive director of the American Institute of Park Executives and executive vice president of the National Recreation and Parks Association. This national honor recognizes notable contributions by individuals to the management and conservancy of natural resources and/or public landscapes.

early representations of the school of design curriculum.

Jun 6, 2023

Trees of Design

As the College of Design faces the social, environmental and economic challenges of the 21st century in its 75th anniversary, the Tree of Design stares out from the pages of this early bulletin to capture our imagination on what interdisciplinary thinking might look like in the 21st century.

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.

Interior pages from the first volume of The Student Publication.

May 26, 2023

From Tragedy, a New School Found Its Voice

The first issue of The Student Publication of the School of Design paid tribute to the school’s first head of architecture, Matthew Nowicki, after his untimely death. Uplifted by his pioneering spirit, his students chose to carry it forward.

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.

Two students explore Eastman prototyping as part of the industrial design studio

May 23, 2023

Celebrating A Decade of Collaboration with Eastman

Compostable takeout containers. Cosmetics packaging. Ready to assemble furniture. These are just a few of the sponsored studio projects the NC State College of Design has conceptualized for real-world applications with industry partner Eastman. They have maintained an active partnership with the College of Design over the past ten years, resulting in nine invention disclosures, five applications and one patent.

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.

Sculpture created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of collaboration between NC State College of Design and SAS Institute

May 15, 2023

SAS and the NC State College of Design — A decade of fresh ideas

The College of Design and SAS celebrated a ten-year partnership in April. SAS Director of Product Design Rajiv Ramarajan reflects on the projects created over the years.

May 10, 2023

College of Design Faculty win NC State Awards in Teaching and Research

Six College of Design faculty were recognized with awards from the Alumni Association, Graduate School, Libraries and Office of the Provost this spring.

Model walks wearing an item from Ellie Baker's collection “Vita naturilis” during the 2023 Art2Wear show. Her collection uses the movement in nature as kinetic forces in her design.

May 4, 2023

Art2Wear Celebrates Motion, Life and Change

Art2Wear 2023 had a mission to inspire students to create wearable art as part of a greater narrative that includes art, fashion, digital production, world-building and storytelling.

Apr 26, 2023

Doctor of Design Program Celebrates its First Graduate: Dr. Juhann Waller

Juhann Waller (DDes Cohort 1) is the first student-practitioner of the program to graduate, and will receive his degree in August 2023. Dr. Waller is the CEO of J.C. Waller Associates, PC, based in Greensboro, NC. His doctoral dissertation is entitled “Resilient Infrastructure: An Integrated Design Approach for the Equitable Distribution of Stormwater Capital Improvements Projects for Pluvial Flood Mitigation.” It models a type of applied design research that can be effected in real time, for real change.

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.

Apr 24, 2023

Coharie Tribe signs agreement for local resilience plan

The Coharie Tribe recently signed an agreement to participate in a community floodprint project, which is being funded by the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR) and led by the N.C. State Coastal Dynamics Design Lab (CDDL). The tribe is the third community selected for the Eastern North Carolina Community Floodprints initiative. A total of five communities will collaborate with the CDDL for the development of a floodprint, which can then be used to bolster future community resilience.

Apr 17, 2023

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Selects María Bellalta as New Head of Department

After conducting a national search, the College of Design at North Carolina State University has selected María Bellalta to serve as the head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, effective July 1. María is currently dean and faculty at the Boston Architectural College (BAC) School of Landscape Architecture, where she directs both graduate and undergraduate programs and teaches design theory and practice as well as interdisciplinary studios on social urbanism.

Apr 11, 2023

Winners from the 2023 Graduate Research Symposium Announced

Three College of Design students were winners at the Graduate Student Research Symposium. Marybeth Campeau (Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning) won first place, with Daniel Garrett (Advanced Architectural Studies) and Keagan Vargo (Industrial Design) winning second and third place, respectively.

Mar 31, 2023

In 2023, Art2Wear is Kinetic – and you’re invited.

Tickets for the 2023 Art2Wear show are now on sale! This year's production will move away from a traditional runway format and widen its lens to include a wider retinue of choreography, set design, entertainment and environmental styling.

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 9, 2023

Ashley Castrejon shares her study abroad experience in Chile with sustainable design

Ashley Castrejon is a graphic & experience design major in the College of Design. She answered a Q&A with study abroad about her experience in Chile studying sustainable design.

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 23, 2023

Department Head of Graphic Design and Industrial Design Tsai Lu Liu Has Been Named Dean at Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts and Design

Tsai Lu Liu, head of the Department of Graphic Design and Industrial Design at NC State’s College of Design, will be leaving the university after 11 years. He has been named the dean of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech. In his tenure as department head, Liu has transformed the department through corporate partnerships, student academic life and philanthropy. He has been working with the faculty and college leadership to increase the diversity of both faculty and students in the program.

Feb 14, 2023

Meg Calkins selected for LAF Fellowship for Innovation and Leadership

The Landscape Architecture Foundation chose Meg Calkins, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning, as one of 6 fellows for 2023-2024.

Feb 8, 2023

Landed Internationals, by faculty member Burak Erdim, wins the On the Brinck Book Award

The On the Brinck Book Award and Lecture Series is created in honor of J.B. Jackson and is awarded by the University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning. Three winners were announced for 2023, including Associate Professor of Architecture Burak Erdim for his book, Landed Internationals: Planning Cultures, the Academy, and the Making of the Modern Middle East.

Dare Coulter in front of book illustration

Feb 3, 2023

Joy and Pain

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

Russell Flinchum and Henry Dreyfuss: Designing for People book

Feb 2, 2023

Russell Flinchum, College of Design faculty, authors new book on pioneer of industrial design Henry Dreyfuss

Russell Flinchum, associate professor of industrial design, is the co-author of a new book: Henry Dreyfuss: Designing for People. Henry Dreyfuss: Designing for People reveals the work of Dreyfuss's talented, hand-picked staff and explores how together they influenced nearly a century of industrial design.

Jan 25, 2023

Media Arts, Design and Technology Department Embraces Name Change to Highlight the Future of Design

The Art + Design Department in the NC State College of Design will now be known by a new name, the Department of Media Arts, Design and Technology, affectionately known as MADTech. “This name change reflects a shift in the future of our department towards the emerging trends in digital media production" says Department Head Derek Ham. "It aligns with our academic content, our faculty expertise, and focuses on the areas of the profession that use emerging technology for creative use.”

Design students in Buckminster Fuller's class design a geodesic cotton mill or textile mill

Jan 18, 2023

75 Years of Leading by Design: College of Design Celebrates a Momentous Milestone

The College of Design celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2023 with a series of lectures, events, alumni weekends, and more.

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.

Jan 12, 2023

Preparing the next generation of green professionals with LEED Lab

North Carolina State University (NC State) is preparing the next generation of green building leaders through LEED Lab. This multidisciplinary immersion course uses project-based learning in the built environment to educate and prepare students to become green building leaders and sustainability-focused citizens.

A partial rendering of the San Ignacio Church interior

Jan 9, 2023

A Digital Heritage: Interdisciplinary Project Aims to Bring Colombian Church to Life

By combining the fields of archaeology and 3D design, Assistant Professor of Archaeology Julie K. Wesp and Assistant Professor of Media Arts, Design and Technology, Justin Johnson are working together to bring a centuries-old church back to life.

woman using Spin e-scooter and cell phone

Jan 6, 2023

Researchers study electric scooter rider behavior through partnership with Spin

Dr. Deepti Adlakha is working with NC State researchers and Spin, a leading service provider in micromobility, to study user behavior on NC State's campus.

Dec 15, 2022

College of Design and ITRE partner on $50,000 grant to design innovative approaches to encourage walkable development along decaying multilane suburban highways.

Associate Professor Celen Pasalar received the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s 2022 Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Stage 1 grant in support of the project "Catalyzing Walkable, Sustainable, and Equitable Urban Development Using Innovative Transportation Strategies."

Sharon Joines: 3 Tips for collaboration from a design professor

Nov 22, 2022

3 Tips for Collaboration from a College of Design Professor

For the last 7 years, LAS collaborator Sharon Joines has used her expertise in industrial design, human centered design, and ergonomics to help the Laboratory for Analytic Sciences (LAS) advise other cross-sector collaborators on how to work better together. She shares how researchers from different sectors can more effectively communicate to support the lab's analytic prototyping projects.

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.

Nov 18, 2022

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Expands Strategic Partnership with NC State through Initiative for Community Growth and Development

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies expands its strategic partnership with North Carolina State University (NC State) to create future innovation opportunities through new research projects, sustainable facility design, and bioprocessing advancements at the future Holly Springs cell culture biomanufacturing site. The strategic partnership will focus areas of research and facility design to support FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 for its new $2 billion site in Holly Springs.

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.

BGXD students fill out a "Matrix of A.I. Possibilities" for a sponsored studio project with REI.

Nov 7, 2022

Graphic Design Program Changes Name to Reflect Expertise in User Experience Design

After months of preparation, the graphic design program will change its degree names to reflect career opportunities for students. These new degree names emphasize not only the current strong curriculum taught by faculty, but deepen the program's alignment with exciting trends in the profession.

Photos and mementos of the residents of Kefalonia, Greece

Oct 26, 2022

Almost lost in time: College of Design students preserve local histories and social practices during study abroad project in Greece

Graphic design students, under the guidance of Professor Scott Townsend, traveled to Kefalonia, Greece in spring 2022. Their goal was to create a Living Histories website to house the oral histories collected from native Kefalonians. The histories of Kefalonia are being lost to time,” says Lewis. “Many younger residents are leaving the island, and we hope that our website can record cultural practices and histories to be accessed by future generations.”

Oct 14, 2022

Latinx Voices of Design: Clarissa Gernat

Clarissa Gernat is in her first year as a graduate student in the college's Art+Design program. She shared her experiences growing up with her family in Honduras, how her heritage ties into her creativity and her experiences at the College of Design.

Oct 13, 2022

Not Just for Looks: Industrial Design Students Reimagine Cosmetics Packaging

Industrial Design students at the College of Design worked with Eastman Chemical Company to create refillable, reusable and rechargeable (“R/R”) packaging for the luxury cosmetics industry. In the studio, students worked with Eastman’s Tritan™, Cristal™, or Cristal™ One materials – each created to reduce plastic waste without compromising product aesthetic and usability.

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.

Iranian Mural Designed by Student Alan Yeh

Oct 10, 2022

For my sister, your sister, our sisters.

Master of Industrial Design student Alan Yeh was approached by the NC State Iranian Student Association to spread awareness around the death of Mahsa Amini and the challenges Iranian women face.