Meet Heather Bybee ’10: SIGD Advisory Council Member

A packaging design wizard, Heather Bybee ‘10 is using her magic for the School of Industrial and Graphic Design’s (SIGD) Advisory Council.
One could call Bybee the complete package, vital to the packaging design process in her present role. As Senior Packaging Designer for Loop Earplugs, she is responsible for creating all structural and graphic packaging design across the product portfolio. Her work has graced packaging for everything from Beats by Dre, to Microsoft Surface, to Lyft.
Now she wants to give a lift to SIGD with her experience.
“My aims for the council are to maintain an excellent educational program, create new opportunities, learn from each other and build lasting connections,” said Bybee, who holds a master’s in Design Strategy and Innovation from Brunel University in addition to her Bachelor of Industrial Design from Auburn. “I don’t know of another university program with this type of council within my professional network. This format could serve as a model for other universities—to solicit feedback, increase alumni engagement and grow the discipline as a whole, bringing more qualified young designers into the field. My personal goals are to increase the visibility of the industrial design profession and recruit a more well-rounded student body to Auburn’s program.”
Bybee has served in senior design roles in-house for Microsoft, the design studio Ammunition, PAX Labs and more..
If she seems confident leaving her mark on top companies, it’s likely due to the industry experience she gained during her final semester at Auburn, where her studio was sponsored by Generac Power Systems to design an innovative pressure washer.
The final presentation of the semester took place not on campus but at Generac Power Systems’ headquarters in Milwaukee.
“The opportunity to complete an entire project in a single semester, travel to company headquarters and present in real time to industry professionals while still a student was an incredible experience—and not one I ever imagined college would offer me,” recalled Bybee.
This hands-on experience not only helped prepare Bybee for her career but also paved the way for her to give back to the program in meaningful ways. In 2022, she returned to Auburn as an accomplished industry veteran and featured speaker at the College of Architecture, Design and Construction’s Day of Design. She also participates in Industrial Design’s mentorship program each semester, led by Associate Professor Ben Bush.
“The connection with industry is something that I believe makes the Auburn Industrial Design program special and a distinct advantage in preparing students for the next step after graduation,” she said.
The program can add one more distinct advantage: Bybee as a member of the SIGD Advisory Council.
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Alumni,
Alumni Engagement,
Alumni Recognition,
Industry Engagement
Related people:
Benjamin Bush