The Department of Design is very proud of our fifty years of alumni! We love being part of the dynamic Ohio State University community, and the flourishing city of Columbus. We know that we would not enjoy our strong reputation and on-going success without you… so we want to know what is going on with you and would love to let you know more about what is going on with us!
One of the easiest ways to do this is to connect with us on your favorite social media platforms. Use the links in the sidebar to Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter, Connect on LinkedIn.
We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Department of Design on October 4-6, 2018!
The legacy of our programs will be honored with a range of events that includes a major exhibition at the Urban Arts Space to visualize the department’s history and celebrate the careers of some of our most distinguished alumni. We will also celebrate the thriving design community of Columbus with a design firm tour and rolling reception, and we will celebrate being Buckeyes together at a special tailgate event before the Homecoming football game on Saturday! There will be fun to be had for young, old and everyone in between, so please plan to join us!
Thursday, October 4th
Welcome Event: “The Future of Design” Lecture and Panel Discussion
Please join us for a stimulating lecture and panel discussion on the future of design at 5:30 pm in the Barnett Theatre in Sullivant Hall on the Ohio State campus. Professor Lorraine Justice, former dean of the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology and Industrial Design Society of America Fellow, will engage us with provocative findings from her upcoming book entitled The Future of Design. Justice is an alumnus of the Department of Design and she served on the faculty from 1988-2000. She was its chairperson between 1997 and 1999. A panel of alumni will provide comments and insights based on Justice’s message.
A casual alumni meet-up will take place at Land-Grant Brewing Company (424 West Town Street) following the welcome event!
Exclusive Anniversary Dinner Opportunity for Design Alumni
Friday, October 5th
Columbus Design Crawl
Money magazine recently declared that Columbus is “making the Midwest cool” and its zoo, its library, and its entrepreneurial capacity building have all been lauded by numerous groups, publications and networks in recent years. But it is also a magnet for design and manufacturing, and chances are, things have really expanded since your time as a student in our department! So please join your fellow alumni to explore Columbus area design firms on one of two exciting tours! Sponsored by the firms and free to you, this day-long opportunity to explore design excellence in the city is the perfect complement to catching up with your former professors and friends at other anniversary celebration events!
Crawl Tour #1 features four amazing consultancies and interdisciplinary research and architectural firms. Starting the day at Design Central, you will see what’s new in product design and engineering. Known globally, Chute Gerdeman is a brand experience company with a distinctive collaborative approach. Named, in part, for department alumna Eloise Chute, this firm is particularly focused on redefining retail design for the twenty-first century. Lextant is the “The Human Experience Firm” that brings a full array of design research approaches to their clients. This tour also provides insight into the architectural and interior design practice experience in Columbus with a visit to M+A Architects before returning you back to Design Central’s parking lot where you started your day.
Crawl #1: Arrive at Design Central at 9:00am. Parking is available all day. Transportation to other locations will be via chartered transport bus. Due to the fact that sponsoring firms have arranged programming and food/drink for registered Design Crawl attendees, unofficial participation is not encouraged.
Crawl Tour #2 features an equally amazing look into the world of design in Columbus. It begins on the campus of another of the city’s major product design and development firms: Priority Design. With a recently-renovated 50,000 sq. ft. facility, the prototyping capabilities of this firm are second to none! A stop at Fitch—a global brand and retail consultancy—will open your eyes to the future of retail design. The branding, marketing, and digital agency Ologie will also host a visit to showcase their specialty in designing brands and messaging for the higher education market. This tour will also showcase the department’s involvement with Columbus Community House. Through service learning and social impact design projects, Associate Professor Susan Melsop has been guiding co-design experiments with neighborhood youth and our own design students. We’d love to show off some of the amazing accomplishments of this long-term collaborative instructional effort before returning you to the parking lot of Priority Design.
Crawl #2: Arrive at Priority Design at 9:00am. Parking is available all day. Transportation to other locations will be via chartered transport bus. Due to the fact that sponsoring firms have arranged programming and food/drink for registered Design Crawl attendees, unofficial participation is not encouraged.
Yes, its true! Each tour is free of charge (although donations to the department’s scholarship fund are always appreciated)! The participating firms are sponsoring the bus transportation and providing your lunch. Both tours start at 9:30 am and will end at 4:30 pm. Plan to spend a relaxing day with friends—old and new—to see and hear about how Columbus has emerged as a major player in the world of design today! Seating is limited, so sign up today!
Register Design Crawl 1 | Register Design Crawl 2
Department of Design 50th Anniversary Exhibition Opening Reception
The opening reception of the Department of Design 50thAnniversary Exhibition “Design Is…” will follow the Columbus Design Crawl on Friday, October 5th. It is open to the public and all alumni are encouraged to attend. A reception to celebrate this comprehensive exhibition featuring works representing the careers of sixteen distinguished alumni and displays celebrating the past, present, and future of the Department of Design will be held from 5:30-8:30 pm.This work will be exhibited at the Urban Arts Space in downtown Columbus from October 6thto November 10th, 2018. Registration is not required – see you there!
Saturday, October 6th
Department of Design Scholarship Fundraising Brunch
College of Arts and Sciences Homecoming Tailgate - SOLD OUT!
Saturday is also Homecoming at Ohio State! We will host a table for alumni at the College of Arts and Sciences tailgate prior to the 3:30 pm football game! Come prepared to show your Buckeye Pride when Ohio State takes on the Indiana Hoosiers!
In the sidebar you will also find more information about ways that you can always interact with us. Please consider engaging with faculty and students when you have research opportunities or needs. Courses or project sponsorships are always encouraged. We would also love for you to visit us on campus. A faculty member would be happy to include you in a studio critique if you are one of our alumni or a design professional. We welcome opportunities for alumni to speak to student groups about their careers and other professional development topics. Gifts of financial support area also always appreciated! If you want to show your support for the students in our department, please consider using the link to donate to one of several funds that are available. Investing in the future of Design at Ohio State is a gift that keeps on giving through all the amazing things that our students accomplish!