About
Product Design at Appalachian State University focuses on creative problem-solving and contextual research. As a student in the Industrial Design (BS) - Product Design program, you will be challenged to create significant innovation within an area of interest by first studying the situation, user, history, market, social and environmental concerns, manufacturing requirements and related issues – all in order to form a comprehensive understanding before you start to create solutions.
Housed in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design, this program and its curriculum are experiential. You will participate in studio projects and industry collaborations that develop a comprehensive knowledge base. You will create physical models of the products you design, drawing from courses in design foundations, 2D and 3D CAD, and materials and processes. All of this ensures you will be prepared to become a productive member of an industry team.
The department advises transfer students to begin the program in the summer in order to complete the program in three years.
After Graduation
Employment: Students have gone on to a variety of jobs throughout the United States and internationally. See a list of employers in the right column.
Graduate School: Students have also gone on to pursue graduate degrees from Southern Methodist University, Appalachian State University, N.C. State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.
People
Related Program
Minors
A minor is not required. Popular choices for students who do pursue a minor include:
- Marketing
- Apparel Design and Merchandising
- Photography
- General Business
- Psychology
Engagement Outside the Classroom
Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) - As an extension of the professional organization IDSA, the club participates in portfolio reviews, sets up group tours, hosts professional presentations and travels to district and national conferences.
American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) - As an extension of the professional furniture design industry, the club takes factory tours and coordinates visits to High Point Furniture Fair to better connect with the furniture industry.
Global Learning
Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.
Industrial Design has created a strong relationship with the Howest Academy in Belgium with student exchanges and the sharing of class experiences. Also, summer studios are frequently taught in Prague, Czech Republic.
Admission Requirements
There is not an added requirement for initial admission, but there is a portfolio review after the student completes an introductory class sequence which will allow the student to take upper-level classes.
Why Appalachian?
- Alumni have gone on to work at world renowned design firms, corporations and independent business ventures.
- Student work has been recognized and shown at Greener Gadgets, Dwell® on Design, Designboom® Mart in Copenhagen, High Point Furniture Market and ICFF.
- Students have won the national Creative Juice Competition sponsored by Google®, honorable mention in the Robert Bruce Thompson Lighting Competition, and “Best of Show” at the International Woodworking Fair. Numerous student group projects have placed in the Retail and Health Innovation Challenge hosted by Wake Forest University School of Business and sponsored by CVS Health.
Location
Boone campus only
Employers
- GoPro
- Touchstone 3D
- Dorel Juvenile
- Chrome Hearts
- Hugh’s Handsbuilt
- Toshiba
- Joe Gibbs Racing
- Kikkerland
- Nike
- Pensole
- Bernhardt Design
- LIAT (Jasper Library Furniture)
- Intel
- Skookum Digital Works
- Cree Inc.
- Westfield Outdoors
- Hunter Fan Company
- WestRock
- ECR Software
- Newell Rubbermaid - Irwin Tools
- Milwaukee Electronic Tool Corp.
- Techtronic Industries
- Lowe’s Home Improvement
- Enventy’s
- TOMY Toys
- Mesa Home Products
Contacts
College of Fine and Applied Arts
Donald Corey
Coordinator
828-262-3116
coreydc@appstate.edu