Core77

Year One for the Iowa State New ID Program

By Rain Noe - May 2, 2011

in design.edu

What's it like to start up a college-level industrial design program from scratch? Soon we'll be able to ask our own Allan Chochinov, whom as many of you know has been tapped to chair the School of Visual Arts' new MFA in Products of Design Program. And while New York City is a great location for such a program and one that will be able to draw on copious local talent, any school that decides to offer education in industrial design is good for our field and should be noted. Thus we turn our attention to the ~~University of Iowa~~ Iowa State, whose College of Design is now wrapping up the first year of their new industrial design program.

While the Iowa State program doesn't have The Choch in charge, program director David Ringholz has been hard at work establishing what is one of only ten ID programs in the American Midwest. One of the early challenges was that the actual classes were ready before the fabrication facilities were—their state-of-the-art ID lab is scheduled to be useable by the fall semester of this year—but that hasn't stopped students from signing up: One of the more positive surprises that faculty encountered over the course of the year was the unexpectedly high interest in the program by not only undergraduates in the Design Core, but high school students as well. "I am definitely seeing more students identify industrial design as a major pre-college than ever before," Ringholz said.

[College of Design Dean] Rico-Gutierrez echoed this sentiment. "I knew there was a trend of people becoming interested in industrial design, but I didn't expect [the program to attract so much attention] that quickly," he said.

...While jumping into a program somewhat still in development is enough to make anyone apprehensive, it has proved to be a rewarding experience for the students admitted to the program. "It's very exciting and a little scary," said Monica Noske, sophomore in industrial design, of being a part of a first-year program. "It's really interesting to see this program being built from the beginning and to be a part of that."

...Amy Edmondson, junior in industrial design, has had a similar positive experience with the program. "I was concerned about joining a new major," she said, "but David [Ringholz] has created a very organized program of study. What we have sometimes lacked in space or equipment, we have made up for with camaraderie and enthusiasm.

"Because we are the only students in the program, we get to have a unique role in planning our futures and the future education of others," she said. "Though I was hesitant at first, I have come to see that getting in on the ground floor of this exciting new program is an opportunity and an asset."

Read the full article on the fledgling program here.

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Ian Wilson

13 years ago

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It is encouraging to see core77 pick up a story about us. As a student in the fledgling class it has been quite the experience. Professor Ringholz and Professor Yimaz have done an exceptional job getting us off the ground. At the midwest IDSA conference we had one of the largest clubs, with only one year of students. Our dedicated group of 19 is paving the way. We have a pretty active blog going that often links to core77 and the great articles here. Head to http://industrial.design.iastate.edu/blog/
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Bruce Wright

13 years ago

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The University of Minnesota College of Design launched their ID program this past fall.
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Ann Elkington

13 years ago

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WELL DONE, David Ringholz!!!
Congratulations from a fellow Papanek scholar.

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Mike

13 years ago

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Correction: This program is just beginning at Iowa State University, not the University of Iowa.
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