For Sami Rettig '22, design has always been about finding the balance between creativity and purpose.
A graduate of Appalachian State University's Industrial Design program with a concentration in Product Design, Rettig now serves as Lead Designer at Blueprint, a New York City-based design studio known for handcrafted lighting and furniture produced in New Jersey. Since joining the company after graduation, she has taken the lead on Blueprint's lighting design and is helping guide the studio's expansion into furniture design, a passion she first discovered as a student at App State.
"The sponsored studios did the most to prepare me for studio life," Rettig said. "Designing for a real company or client meant working within their constraints and learning to set my own taste aside to deliver what they actually needed. That's a skill I rely on every day."
Those experiences, combined with App State's senior capstone program, helped her develop both the creative confidence and professional discipline necessary to thrive in a design studio. Eager to maximize her final year, Rettig completed two capstone projects simultaneously, an ambitious decision that challenged her time-management skills and reinforced her dedication to design.
"It taught me something about myself," she said. "When I'm passionate about something, I go all in."
Today, that commitment fuels her design process. Rettig describes her approach as a "napkin sketch mentality," beginning with rough, intuitive sketches before refining concepts through 3D modeling and production development. While functionality remains essential, she believes great products start with compelling form.
"I think of each piece as art with a purpose," she said. "The rough, unfiltered ideas are often the most important ones."
The foundation for that creative process was developed during her time at App State, where sponsored studios taught her to navigate real-world client expectations while capstone projects gave her the freedom to discover her own design voice. The portfolio she built as a student ultimately opened the door to her first professional opportunity and helped establish the detail-oriented mindset that continues to define her work today.
"All the time we spent on our portfolios paid off in more ways than one," Rettig said. "I graduated with a solid body of work, but the bigger takeaway was how detail-oriented it made me. That habit helped me succeed on larger projects early on because I made sure nothing went unchecked."
As her responsibilities have grown, Rettig has embraced new leadership opportunities by adopting a mentality she describes as "fake it till you make it," learning from every project, challenge and success along the way.
For current and prospective Industrial Design students, her advice is simple: jump in fully, build relationships and don't let self-doubt get in the way.
"Make connections. Reach out to professionals. Let go of the imposter syndrome, because it will only hold you back," she said. "And spend as much time in the shop as you can. Don't be afraid of not knowing enough or making mistakes. That's where a lot of learning happens."
Looking back, Rettig says choosing Industrial Design at App State remains one of the best decisions she has ever made.
"There's never a boring day," she said.
photo credits: product pictures by Tatsuro Nishimura and headshots by Sam Backhaus
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.
Sam Rettig_'22 News thumb
Sam Rettig_'22 News thumb