BOONE, N.C. — The Department of Applied Design at Appalachian State University invites the public to Mountain Made: Design at App State, a free open studio event celebrating the creativity of students across interior design, product design, furniture design, and apparel design and merchandising.
The event takes place at Katherine Harper Hall on the Boone campus, with an opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, and open studio hours from 2 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23.
Mountain Made offers visitors a rare opportunity to tour working design studios, meet students and faculty, and gain insight into how applied design education connects concept, craft and community impact. The event highlights how student work engages real-world contexts, from public spaces to wearable design.
"By opening our studios to the public, we invite our community to see how research, making, collaboration and civic engagement come together in innovative student design work that is deeply connected to place," said Sheryl Oring, chair of the Department of Applied Design, noting that this is the department's inaugural open studio event.
Morgann Owens, a senior in interior design, noted that "when we share our projects, we highlight our creativity, inspire others and create opportunities for new ideas and connections. It's a chance for our department to shine and for our community to see the value of applied design."
Design with community impact
A featured highlight of Mountain Made is a seating design project developed in partnership with the Broyhill Family Foundation. While walking through the Broyhill Walking Park in Lenoir, faculty member Sam Ladwig identified an opportunity to replace aging benches with newly designed seating created by App State students.
Five students in a senior design course were challenged to design and build outdoor benches inspired by Japanese garden aesthetics and philosophy, reflecting the park's original design. Students conducted research, developed prototypes and produced models. The Broyhill Family Foundation funded four benches, with designs selected by the foundation's board following formal student presentations.
The completed benches will be on view at Mountain Made and installed in the Broyhill Walking Park, with an official public unveiling planned in September during the 40th Annual Sculpture Celebration hosted by the Caldwell Arts Council. Also on view will be tables that students made in one of the furniture design classes led by Professor Richard Prisco.
Student voices and emerging talent
In addition to the bench project, Mountain Made will feature work from across the department, including the winning design from the Apparel Design and Merchandising Denim Design Challenge, a fast-paced, collaborative competition that highlights innovation, material exploration and professional presentation.
"Mountain Made showcases emerging ideas while promoting dialogue, transparency and shared appreciation for the creative process," said Dr. Anthony Wilson, program director of apparel design and merchandising.
For more information, contact Sheryl Oring at oringsa@appstate.edu.
About the Department of Applied Design
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department of Applied Design at Appalachian State University fosters excellence in design education, design research, and professional placement. The department balances theoretical and pragmatic approaches while exploring an awareness of impact through design decisions on the global community. Faculty focus on a holistic approach to creative problem-solving by integrating sustainability and ethical responsibility in teaching and practice. The department offers bachelor's degrees in apparel design and merchandising, industrial design, and interior design.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University's College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio, and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
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