SIGD Celebrates 80 Years of Design Education

Founded in 1945, both Industrial and Graphic Design programs were originally housed in the School of Architecture and the Arts. Over the years, SIGD has achieved significant milestones, including the Industrial Design program earning departmental status in 1977, the Graphic Design program joining the Department of Industrial Design in 2007 and its official recognition as a School in 2013. Throughout its evolution, one constant has remained: SIGD’s commitment to providing a top-notch education for future design professionals.

To commemorate the School’s 80th anniversary, SIGD School Head Dr. Wei Wang commissioned Graphic Design alum Will Dove ‘11 to create a visual identity for the year-long celebration. Students from both Industrial and Graphic Design programs will participate in a special topics course to build upon this identity, contributing their own creative interpretations of SIGD’s legacy through designs for various materials, including T-shirts, sketchbooks, stickers, animations and posters.

As the milestone approaches, Wang and the faculty are excited to look ahead— not just as reflecting on the past, but also shaping the future. “Bringing together SIGD’s different talents for this project allows us to appreciate what we have in common while looking ahead to what’s next,” Wang stated. “This anniversary is a time of pride for our students, faculty and alumni. Eighty years is an incredible accomplishment, and we’re excited to celebrate the legacy and future of SIGD.”

Event details will be announced soon.