Appalachian State University’s interior design program in the Department of Applied Design has been ranked as a DesignIntelligence 2018 “Top 25 Most Admired” program. The report also recognized the program among the top ten in the nation in three of its 12 focus areas — Project Planning and Management, Practice Management and Sustainable Built Environments/Adaptive Design/Resilient Design.
According to its website, DesignIntelligence is an independent company that is dedicated to the business success of organizations in architecture, engineering, construction and design. It’s annual “Americas Best Architecture and Design Schools” edition is the most sought-after publication in the country for design school ratings.
Schools are ranked by hiring professionals in the industry, deans, department heads and current students. Only programs accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) are included among the answer options for the undergraduate interior ranking questions.
This is the first time Appalachian has appeared in the rankings, and Department Chair Brian Davies is thrilled.
“We have a stellar interior design program due in large part to our faculty, who all graduated from top ten design schools,” he shared. “They fuel student creativity and sustain high standards of performance, as evidenced by consistent recognitions of student work nationally and internationally.”
He says that the programs in the Department of Applied Design — apparel design and merchandising, interior design and industrial design — focus on enhancing the human experience as we engage social, natural and built environments to work, live and play.
“Appalachian exists in an inspiring natural and cultural context, and creativity pursues inspiration. Applied Design's creative innovation across diverse scales makes us unique.”
About the Department of Applied Design
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, the Department 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 Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational 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 embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
Students working
Two students discuss design plans. Photo submitted