Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a physical heart defect that begins in the womb, impacting around 40,000 children born in the U.S. each year. Seeking to improve education for diagnosed children and their families, undergraduate student Levi Skelton (Product Design) partnered with the UMN Medical School to create a product for teaching children about CHD.
In the spring of 2018 Teaching Specialist Bill Moran (Graphic Design) asked his students to design fabric wraps for the concrete pillars lining the basement of McNeal Hall. The project was a success, and it prompted Moran to ask himself, “Why not try this in the McNeal Hall Atrium?” The idea stuck with him and finally came to fruition in June 2022 when Moran solicited help from alumni, students, staff of the Goldstein Museum of Design, and received funding from the college’s Kusske Design Initiative to make his idea a reality.
From tackling the user experience design of the Metaverse to developing customized pediatric respiratory masks, our faculty are conducting research across the design fields and beyond. This spring, 12 faculty members received grants from the University’s Imagine Fund, which supports innovative research in the arts, humanities, and design fields.
Biophilic design focuses on increasing the connection between humans and the natural environment through the design of spaces. This fall, the Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) will host an exhibition on biophilic design featuring images submitted through Instagram.
On May 5 and 6, 2022, the Department of Landscape Architecture will host capstone presentations for the Master of Landscape Architecture Class of 2022. Members of the public are invited to attend. View the presentation schedule and learn about the capstones that will be presented below.
All College of Design News
From interviews with faculty, students, and alumni to profiles on our latest research, read more about what the College of Design community is working on.
Featured Events
Exhibition Dates: June 25–September 25, 2022
Location: Goldstein Gallery, McNeal Hall
Through objects from the Goldstein’s permanent collection, Plastic Rapt: A History of Designing Forever acknowledges both plastic’s extreme versatility as well as its inherently detrimental qualities. On the one hand, plastic is a highly functional material that is used in products like laptops, food packaging, O-rings, and surgical gloves. Brightly colored toys, flexible spatulas, leggings, and lawn chairs are typically made from plastics. On the other hand, it is asphyxiating the earth’s oceans and atmosphere, and it is not designed to go away when we want it to.
Join Us at an Event
The College of Design hosts events across a full range of design disciplines. From research showcases to lecture series, student exhibitions, discussion panels, and more, we have countless ways for you to get involved in our community.
