Several alumni from the Department of Design’s class of 2006 recently returned to Ohio State to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their graduation and reconnect with former classmates.
The weekend began Friday evening with a casual get-together for dinner, followed by a day on campus Saturday. Alumni joined faculty members Professor Emeritus Paul Nini and Assistant Professor of Teaching Adam Fromme (a member of the ’06 cohort) at Hayes Hall to learn about the current department, followed by a campus tour and a visit to the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. The group wrapped up the weekend with a football watch party on Saturday night.
A few things have changed in the past 20 years, including more than $12 billion in capital investment across Ohio State since their graduation. The Department of Design has changed as well, with growth in its programs and reach across Ohio:
- 2010 — Department of Design relocates from Hopkins Hall to Hayes Hall
- 2012 — Ohio State switches from quarters to semesters, which allowed us to expand the design research curriculum in our undergraduate majors
- 2016 — Department launches the Design Thinking Minor
- 2017 — Department is founding partner in new interdisciplinary Games Studies Minor
- 2024 — Department begins offering Design Foundations courses at the Newark campus as wall as its first course approved to be part of the University General Education curriculum, DESIGN 3505: Presentation as Thinking
- 2025 — Department launches Experimental Media Design as a fourth undergraduate major
- 2026 — Department begins offering Design Thinking Minor courses at the Marion and Mansfield campuses
While the campus certainly looks different, alumni were quick to notice that the stories and friendships have remained the same. And the weekend gave the alumni an opportunity to catch up and share their many personal and professional accomplishments since graduating from the Department of Design.
Alumni and friends interested in staying connected with the Department of Design can join the Friends of the Department mailing list to receive updates about upcoming events, exhibitions and celebrations, especially as the Department prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2028.