SIGD Celebrates 80 Years of Design Education

A large sign announces the SIGD 80th Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Design Show Reception, with decorative balloons and illuminated letters in the background.

On Friday, Nov. 7, over 200 people gathered in the Melton Student Center Ballroom to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD), commemorating the legacy and toasting the future of Auburn design education.

The SIGD 80th Anniversary Celebration and Alumni Design Showcase kicked off with tours of Wallace Hall to see updated facilities and work of the current students in the industrial design (INDD) and graphic design (GDES) programs. School Head Wei Wang served as emcee of the day, welcoming guests and sharing an overview of the history of the School as guests viewed a slideshow of photos throughout the years.

“We have gratitude for those who built our legacy, pride in what we celebrate today and confidence in the bright future that lies ahead,” Wang said, commemorating the historic milestone.

A group of people stands in a hallway, observing and discussing artwork displayed on the walls.
CADC Ambassadors led tours of Wallace Hall to show alumni and guests work that the current students are creating.
A group of people stands in a well-lit classroom filled with art supplies, student projects, and hanging decorations.
Alumni got to reminisce about their days in the studio, surrounded by designs.

The event featured SIGD’s anniversary brand identity, which was created by GDES alum Will Dove ‘11, and SIGD 80th celebration and alumni show identity designed by current GDES student Colt Bass. Attendees received t-shirts, sketchbooks, decals and more that featured the celebratory designs.

The celebration was sponsored by Copperwing, an award-winning visioning, branding and marketing agency founded by Angela Stiff, a 1991 graduate of the graphic design program and member of the CADC Executive Board.

Two young men receive name tags and event materials from a woman at a registration table in a brightly lit room.
Many current SIGD students attended the event to learn about the School’s legacy and meet alumni.
People enter a conference room through double doors; a vertical sign for the Auburn SBDC event stands to the right, and the floor has a blue and green patterned carpet.
Over 200 people attended the SIGD 80th Anniversary Celebration in the Melton Student Center.

Recognizing a legacy

During the celebration, four SIGD alumni presented the inaugural Dr. Walter Schaer Legacy Scholarship to INDD senior Dawson Emerson. The scholarship honors the life of longtime professor Walter Schaer, who helped create a culture of innovation and critical thinking in the INDD program using his experience at the renowned German Ulm School of Design.

“Dr. Schaer balanced Germanic precision and utter chaos,” said INDD alum Don Corey ‘93, one of the founding donors of the scholarship. “He taught us to think of others and never design for ourselves.”

Emerson and some of the founding donors—including Corey, Scott Gant ‘92, Tsailu Liu ’92, Mike Poindexter ’92, and Jose Vasquez ‘89, who were present at the event—received a commemorative 3D-printed statue of Schaer known as Wally Awards. Inspired by the plaster figurine Schaer was infamous for bestowing on his students, the award honors and inspires design excellence for years to come.

A man in a suit speaks at a podium, with a screen behind him displaying SIGD 80th Anniversary Celebration + Alumni Show Reception.
School Head Wei Wang gave an overview of the history of the School.
An older man in a suit jacket and khakis closely examines artwork or posters displayed on easels in a brightly lit hallway.
Professor Emeritus Ray Dugas admired the work of graphic design alumni whom he trained in his four decades of service at Auburn.

Looking back

The event continued with two panel discussions to look back at the School’s history and forward to its future.

Moderated by INDD Professor Shea Tillman, the first panel focused on how SIGD has established a renowned legacy, identity and value over the last eight decades with participation from School Head Emeritus Clark Lundell; Professor Emeritus Ray Dugas; alumni Tom Hardy ’70, Angela Stiff ’91, Dorsey Cox ,’85 Elise Thomason ’00; Professor and Master of Industrial Design Program Chair Tin-Man Lau and Associate Professor Samantha Herbert.

The group commented on the importance of collaboration and design principles, the value of craftsmanship and process and how being teachable allows designers to flourish both during school and throughout their careers.

Thomason shared a story of touring colleges and what drew her to Auburn, saying that “the work at Auburn was thoughtful and integrated history and humanity.”

A man sits on a chair facing a panel of speakers in a conference room, with a screen displaying headshots and names in the background.
INDD Professor Shea Tillman moderated a panel with alumni, current and past professors on the reputation the School has built throughout its history.
A group of men sitting in rows at a conference, with one man in front taking a selfie on his phone.
Alumni caught up with old friends and made new connections.

Lundell, who was a faculty member at Auburn for 45 years, challenged the audience to never lose the joy and wonder of being alive.

“The world is filled with the pragmatic and the aesthetic,” he said. “You have to solve the problem in a way that engages the viewer. It has to be beautiful.”

Looking forward

Moderated by GDES Assistant Professor Devon Ward, the second panel envisioned what the next 80 years of the School could look like with perspectives from Wang; alumni and Advisory Council members Ben Rivers ’96, Chris Livaudais ’02, Kat Hollister ’07, John McCabe ’06, Jordan Johnston ’07; GDES Program Chair Robert Finkel and INDD Undergraduate Program Chair Ben Bush.

The group debated the prevalence of artificial intelligence in the design world and how students and professionals have an opportunity to learn and adapt as new technologies emerge, turning prototyping and rendering into a minute-by-minute process. The panelists emphasized the benefits of cross-disciplinary training, the still-relevant role of handcraftsmanship and the need for agility in a changing industry.

A panel of eight people sit on stage in front of an audience, with a presentation slide displaying speaker photos and text projected above them.
Speakers shared the opportunities and challenges of changing technologies during the future panel discussion.

“We want our designers to be curious,” Finkel said. “The culture of community and critique will always be important regardless of the advancements in technology.”

Alumni Showcase

Following the presentation and panel discussions, attendees enjoyed refreshments, caught up with old friends and perused design work from 88 SIGD alumni—nearly 40 of whom were in attendance. The showcase featured everything from SylvanSport camping products by Thomas Dempsey ‘89 to Johnson & Murphy footwear by Andrew Brainer ‘19, from a poster for HBO’s “The Last of Us” by Avenley Horner ‘15 to the Google Maps logo by Ty Wilkins ‘03. The collection displayed the wide range and depth of career and creative paths the alumni have taken.

Jordan Johnston, a 2007 GDES graduate and member of the SIGD Advisory Council, lauded the consistency of the designers who have matriculated through the School.

“The School is incredibly authentic,” she said. “We have such hardworking alums with resiliency and grit. It’s important to me to know that is how the programs still function.”

People view artworks displayed on easels in a well-lit indoor space with large windows and blue-striped carpet.
SIGD Advisory Councilmember Dorsey Cox ’85 peruses designs by other INDD alumni.
Three women stand and talk in a conference room, smiling and holding items like a coat, tote bag, and umbrella. Rows of chairs and a blue curtain are visible in the background.
Connections flourished as alumni reunited and expanded their circles.

With over a decade of experience as a creative director at L’Oréal, Johnston said she was proud to be a SIGD alumna and excited to have the opportunity to return to the Plains to reconnect with the Auburn family.

That sentiment was reiterated by the current SIGD students who attended the celebration.

“The anniversary shows that the relationships we build in this program are meant to last,” said GDES student Natalie Reese. “Those relationships keep people coming back.”

People view posters on easels at an indoor event with several attendees in the background. One sign reads 80th Anniversary Celebration + Alumni Design Show Reception.
Eighty-eight SIGD alumni presented work as part of the showcase.

GDES alum Gerald Gentemann ‘76 reflected on how the celebration commemorated the way Auburn shaped him.

“It was a powerful experience to return to a place that shaped so much of my creative foundation and to see the evolution of the program through the work of today’s students and alumni.” Gentemann said. “The event made me proud—not only of the School’s legacy, but of the boldness and clarity I saw in the graduates’ work.”

“It’s clear that Auburn continues to cultivate designers who think deeply, communicate powerfully and move culture forward.”

See more in:
Alumni, Alumni Recognition, Faculty Recognition, Industry Engagement, Student Experience, Student Recognition

Related people:
Wei Wang, Devon Ward, Robert Finkel, Clark Lundell, Samantha Herbert, Tin-Man Lau, Shea Tillman, Benjamin Bush, Ray Dugas