CADC Faculty Win Author Award for Collaborative Book

Two women standing outdoors hold up a black booklet with a geometric design on the cover, smiling at the camera; greenery is visible in the background.

Two professors from the College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC) received a 2026 Auburn Authors Award for their collaborative book about the design process.

Sponsored by the Graduate School, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research & Economic Development and the Auburn University Libraries, the 2026 Auburn Author Awards program recognized 32 faculty and staff members who published a book-length scholarly work during the previous calendar year during a ceremony at the Corner Office on April 23.

Associate Professor Courtney Windham from the School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) and Professor Margaret Fletcher from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) were honored for their new book “Discovering the Design Process: Into the Beautiful Mess.”

A closed and an open book are displayed on a light surface; the cover features geometric patterns, while the open pages show text and photos.
The book includes 12 interviews with designers from various disciplines to showcase the similarities and range of creative pursuits.

Published by Routledge in December 2025, the book explores the unconscious and conscious aspects of the creative process and invites readers to peruse the unseen, nonlinear paths designers take to make meaningful work.

Five people stand indoors, with the woman in the center holding a plaque. They are dressed in business attire and smiling at the camera.
Windham represented both authors at the 2026 Auburn Author Awards.

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Creative Work, Faculty Collaboration, Faculty Recognition, Faculty Work, Research

Related people:
Courtney Windham, Margaret Fletcher