About
The School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) is housed within the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) at Auburn University.
Twenty-two faculty, 5 staff and 420 students are enrolled in three degree-granting programs—Bachelor of Industrial Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Master of Industrial Design—and one minor—Minor in Industrial and Graphic Design Processes.
SIGD is located within Wallace Hall, a 53,000 square foot facility built in 1983 and made up of 44,000 square feet of office/classroom/studio space, and 9,000 square feet of indoor shop fabrication space. Approximately 7,500 square feet of outdoor partially covered fabrication and assembly operations are located immediately adjacent to the indoor shop space.
The two units of industrial and graphic design were both founded in the Department of Art in the School of Architecture in 1945. Graphic Design was first accredited by the National Associations of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) at that time making Auburn University one of the Charter Members of NASAD. Both units were housed in the Langdon Hall Annex.
Industrial Design left the Department of Art, in the School of Architecture and the Arts then housed in Biggin Hall, in 1977 to occupy O. D. Smith Hall as a standalone department and become part of the College of Architecture. The Industrial Design program became the first to be accredited by NASAD in the Southern United States in 1993. In 1996 the School of Architecture becomes the School of Architecture, Design and Construction. In 2000 Industrial Design moved into Wallace Hall. The Graphic Design program joined the Department of Industrial Design in 2007. Soon thereafter in 2013 Industrial Design and Graphic Design became the School of Industrial and Graphic Design both housed within Wallace Hall.
Both Industrial Design programs, undergraduate and graduate, have achieved national recognition and ranking and remain the only degree programs of their type in Alabama. Graphic Design has been consistently listed as a Top Program by GDUSA and have had more than 15 students in the past 10 years named as “Students to Watch.” SIGD manages multiple study beyond programs available to students throughout the school.
Accredited Programs
SIGD houses the oldest NASAD accredited Bachelor of Industrial Design and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design programs in Alabama. Our award-winning faculty are highly motivated and collaborate regularly with industry and other partners to bring real-world projects into the classroom.
Industry Collaborations
Collaboration is an important part of the student experience. We have had over 25 years of success with more than 200 industry and external collaborators.
Design Organization Memberships
SIGD is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) and the World Design Organization (WDO).
Recognition
One-of-a-kind: Industrial design, engineering students’ collaboration leads to groundbreaking medical device
Students from Auburn’s Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design programs are solving real-life problems, and they recently witnessed the public unveiling of an innovative new surgical device they helped create.
CADC Celebrates Creative Scholarship in Extensive SHOWCASE 2025 Exhibition
Twenty-five projects, from prints made from brewer’s yeast to an Alexander Calder-inspired kinetic orchid mobile, are on display at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, representing the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) faculty’s contribution to SHOWCASE 2025.
GDES Faculty Member Challenges Students to Design for the Future
Devon Ward, Assistant Professor in the School of Industrial Design (SIGD), challenges students to think beyond the present and anticipate the future of design. This focus on emerging design is present in his teaching and his creative work.
INDD Expands Study Abroad Program to Japan
In February, 15 Industrial Design students stepped from under the dappled shade of Tokyo’s plum blossoms into a projected pond where koi fish made of light swam around their knees.
Graphic Design Professor Kelly Bryant Retires
Congratulations to Kelly Bryant, professor of Graphic Design in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction on her retirement following 25 years of service.
Stepping Out of Her Comfort Zone Pays Off Big Time for NVA Intern
Cheyenne Butler, an intern at Auburn’s New Venture Accelerator, is adamant in her belief that the NVA has given her purpose beyond what she could have ever imagined.
Highly Ranked Programs
Auburn Industrial Design Graduate and Undergraduate programs are consistently ranked within the top 10 nationally. Three Industrial Design faculty members have been ranked as the “Top 25 Architecture and Design Educators Nationwide” by DesignIntelligence.
Auburn’s CADC Programs Ranked among Nation’s Best
Auburn University College of Architecture, Design and Construction programs continue to be ranked among the nation’s best by DesignIntelligence Quarterly...
Auburn Graphic Design Program and Students Recognized by Graphic Design USA
For the fourth consecutive year, the Graphic Design program in the School of Industrial + Graphic Design has been included...
Equipment and Facilities
Classrooms, studios, and workshop space with state-of-the-art equipment to best prepare students for careers in the design industry.