College of Fine and Applied Arts

In the College of Fine and Applied Arts at Appalachian State University, preparing students for professional success extends beyond traditional classroom learning. Through a hands-on partnership between the university and the Broyhill Family Foundation, four recent graduates in the Furniture Design program — Zane Owens ‘25, Colvin Harvey ‘26, Walker Hailey ‘26 and Adam Smalley ‘26 — gained real-world client experience by designing, fabricating and installing custom outdoor benches for the T.H. Broyhill Walking Park in Lenoir.

Under the mentorship of Assistant Professor of Industrial Design Sam Ladwig, the semester-long project challenged the students to navigate client expectations, professional design constraints, and outdoor fabrication requirements.

Sam Ladwig

Reflecting on the impact of taking studio design into public spaces, Professor Ladwig said, "When student work moves out of the classroom and into the community, everyone who interacts with it becomes part of its story. That's what these benches represent, not just four pieces of furniture, but a whole community's investment in itself."

Bridging Classroom Learning and Professional Practice
App State’s Furniture Design program, which is housed within the Department of Applied Design, emphasizes design inquiry, user research, creative problem-solving and manufacturing standards to prepare graduates to compete professionally.

For former student Harvey, working on a client-driven project proved to be a pivotal career-building milestone. “It was a unique and invaluable experience to be able to do commission work as an undergraduate through Sam Ladwig’s Furniture III Studio, especially at a relatively large architectural scale,” Harvey said. “This helped my confidence as a designer and was a great learning opportunity.”

Artist: Colvin Harvey

The student design process mirrored industry practices from start to finish:

• Research and Ideation: Students researched Japanese Garden design principles, visited the park site and constructed scale models.
• Client Presentation: The team pitched concepts directly to the Broyhill Walking Park Jury, receiving feedback to align their designs with the park's visual aesthetic and durability needs.
• Fabrication and Installation: After receiving jury approval, students sourced materials, built the full-scale benches for outdoor longevity, and coordinated hand-off with the City of Lenoir Parks and Recreation installation crew.

"This project is a great example of the kind of education we want our students to have in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. They were able to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it to a real project that will have a lasting impact on the community. We are so grateful to the Broyhill Family Foundation for its longstanding partnership with App State and for giving our faculty and students opportunities like this. This partnership creates meaningful experiences for everyone involved, and we are excited to continue building on this story and see where our creativity and collaboration take us next," shares CFAA interim Dean, Dr. Shanshan Lou.

The project was formally celebrated and unveiled during the 40th Annual Caldwell Arts Council Sculpture Celebration on September 12, 2026. The project has been renewed for the 2026 fall semester with two new benches being commissioned by the Foundation.

From left to right: Interim Dean of CFAA, Dr. Shanshan Lou, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design, Sam Ladwig, Artist/ former student, Adam Smalley, artist/ former student, Zane Owens, Sheila Triplett-Brady, Interim Chair of Applied Design, Michael Rall, and Assistant Professor of Industrial Design, Annie Evelyn

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 nearly 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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• Applied Design
• Fine and Applied Arts