CADC Hosts Inaugural Day of Design 

On Friday, September 24, the College of Architecture, Design & Construction (CADC) hosted its first annual Day of Design, an event that brought together students, educators, alumni and guests to hear from industry professionals in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design and industrial design. The day-long event, held in Auburn’s Student Activities Center, featured speakers from the disciplines represented in the School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) in the morning and the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (APLA) in the afternoon. The event incorporated the celebration of SIGD’s 75^th anniversary with APLA’s annual student awards program.

The day started with a presentation by graphic designers Jonathan Lawrence and Auburn alum Jason Orme of Atlanta-based brand identity studio PROPER. They were followed by Jason Krause, a 2006 alumnus, who is currently the Senior Director of Industrial Design at oral care company Quip in New York City. The final speaker of the morning was Chelsea McLemore, another 2006 Auburn grad and current Product Design Manager of Disney+ Content Discovery and Identity at the Walt Disney Company.

During lunch, music was provided by Keith Medley, SIGD Professor of Practice and Master Luthier and Product Development Manager for Gibson Guitars. In the afternoon, APLA featured two alumni speakers who are leaders in their fields. The first was Amanda Loper, AIA, LEED AP, who is a recent recipient of the 2021 AIA Young Architects Award. She established and leads DBA_BHM, the southeastern office of David Baker Architects, located in Birmingham. The final speaker was 1998 graduate Jamie Phillips, a Principal at CMG Landscape Architecture who has participated in many of the firm’s largest and most complex open space projects. The day culminated in an awards dinner recognizing outstanding students, faculty and donors who have supported SIGD and APLA.

Master of Industrial Design student Landon Ritterling found the presentations by industry professionals to be the most valuable part of the day. “I was very inspired seeing all the directions that design can take you,” he stated. “I think Chelsea McLemore’s presentation showed this trait the best. She was able to zig and zag quite a bit with her career.” Freshman landscape architecture major Bay Thomas was also inspired by the day’s speakers. “My favorite part about Day of Design was seeing the speakers’ projects and getting design ideas from them,” Thomas stated. “Seeing completed projects and learning how landscape architects collaborate with others was beneficial in discerning what kind of direction I would like to take my work. My notebook is now filled with several sketches of various designs I had never even imagined!”

Graphic design major Kaiyah King felt that Day of Design was a valuable experience that compliments what students learn in the classroom. “There were a ton of noteworthy quotes and pieces of advice,” she said. “Each presenter had at least one project I was eager to research afterwards for more information. I would encourage students to attend again next year because they can learn tricks of the trade about the corporate world that may not be taught in their regular curriculum.”

CADC Dean Vini Nathan said she was glad to hear such positive feedback from this year’s attendees. “I’m reassured and humbled by the response to Day of Design,” she stated. “Such reports reinforce the CADC’s commitment to making this a robust annual event for students, faculty, alumni and donors.”