Industrial Design Program appalachian state university
the industrial design program
at Appalachian State University
the department of technology
+ environmental design, which
is comprised of 160 majors and 6 full time faculty. Students
offers seven undergraduate majors with nearly 1000 students,
can chose from two areas of concentration; Product Design
is one of the largest departments on the Appalachian campus.
or Furniture Design. Both concentrations focus on design
The Industrial Design program’s most recent accolades include:
inquiry, creative problem-solving, user research, cultural and
Winning Best of Show at the National Student Design Emphasis
environmental concerns, and manufacturing requirements.
competition, exhibiting at the International Contemporary
Through industry collaborations and studio projects, students
Furniture Fair for the last three years, being selected as a
are challenged to develop a comprehensive knowledge base
finalist in the International Spark Design Awards, and being
allowing them to compete professionally.Furniture Design
awarded Honorable Mention at the Philadelphia Museum of
Concentration: Only a short distance from the residential
Art Collab Competition. Additionally, the program has recently
furniture capital of the world, the program has a proud history
conducted sponsored studios with the Eastman Chemical
and has been serving the furniture industry for over 70 years.
Company, GroovyStuff Furniture, and Irwin Industrial Tools.
The curriculum offers students a design-based education that
The program currently offers international experiences abroad
emphasizes hands-on skills, research, aesthetics, presentation,
in the Netherlands and through a partnership in Prague.
computer-aided design, critical thinking and professional
For more information, please visit our web page at: http://
development. Through industry collaboration, personal
industrialdesign.appstate.edu/
exploration and being the only program in the country to require marketing minor, students develop the necessary
appalachian state university
skills to be competitive in today’s design market. Product
university with an enrollment of over 18,000. Appalachian is
is a comprehensive state
Design Concentration: Focusing on creative problem solving
consistently recognized in such publications as U.S. News
and contextual research, the product design concentration
and World Report, Forbes, Kiplinger, and Sierra as one of the
stresses design methodology. Students are challenged to
outstanding universities in the southeastern United States.
create significant innovation within their area of study by first,
The university stresses excellence in teaching and prides itself
studying the context, the end user, history, market analysis,
on an outstanding working relationship between student and
sustainability, and related issues. Gaining a comprehensive
professor. It has a wide variety of cultural and outdoor programs
understanding before they start to create solutions, students
for the enjoyment of faculty, staff, and students. Boone, North
then utilize, sketching, models, ergonomic studies, aesthetic
Carolina is located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, just
exploration, CAD and prototyping to communicate their final
minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Known for its mountain
designs. Product design has evolved and grown immensely
views and spectacular scenery, the area is a common vacation
at Appalachian State University over the past seven years and
and summer home destination. The 3,300-foot elevation
has delivered great designers to industry through companies
makes for cool summers and excellent year-round recreational
such as CREE, STX, and Toshiba. Industrial Design Facilities:
activities.
The program is housed in a 12,000 square foot facility within the Department of Technology and Environmental Design
For more information about the program contact:
and is part of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. The program facilities are comprised of dedicated studio space,
Kern Maass
computer labs and material exploration facilities supporting a
Program coordinator
woodworking lab, metal fabrication lab, plastic working area,
maasskd@appstate.edu
ceramics, welding facility, material finishing, CNC labs and rapid
828 262 6356
prototyping equipment.
Marc Bilbao bio
Marc Bilbao was born in Atlanta, GA. His formative years were spent in a rural suburb of Charlotte, NC. There, he grew to love nature’s beauty and function. His roots drive much of the ethics and inspiration for his work. Currently, Marc is a graduating senior at Appalachian State University with a BS in product design. There he works as a technician for the department’s woods lab helping fellow students with projects and maintaining the equipment. Marc puts a heavy emphasis on design process while striving for impeccable craftsmanship. His work aims to purify forms and simplify use of everyday items in our over-embellished world.
exhibited work
+/-
lamp
The +/- Lamp designed by Marc Bilbao finds its inspiration in the Russian Avant-Garde art movement Suprematism pioneered by Kasimir Malevich. The movement sought to purify art to the most simple and elemental geometric forms. These gestures represented movement, emotions, and ideas. The +/- Lamp explores the shapes this movement utilizes as 3D forms that the user can assemble, reassemble, and disassemble as a high-powered LED desk lamp.
James Ellis bio
James A. Ellis currently resides in Boone, North Carolina. He attended Western Piedmont Community College, double majoring in Professional Crafts: Woodworking and Associate of Arts. He transferred into Appalachian State University and is completing a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design with a concentration in Furniture Design with a minor in Marketing. He has remained on the Dean’s list consistently and has received multiple scholarships including Celia Moh, a full tuition scholarship for his last two years. He is very grateful for these scholarships. J.A.E. has had two gallery shows and has won multiple awards, including IWF 2012 1st place in case goods and the Appalachian State Chair Competition 3rd place in 2011 and 2nd place in 2014.
exhibited work the universe at our fingertips
These lamps are made from paper, acrylic and wire. The concept behind these lamps is to emphasize the fabric of which connects everything around us. I find it fascinating to see that the shapes and movements that occur on the atomic level are also found in hurricanes, solar systems and the universe. I am stressing the cyclical nature of nature. In this version I have rasterized my finger print onto the paper with a laser cutter. This reflects the uniqueness that we all portray, but on a basic level we are all the same–Stardust.
Casey Gloster bio
Casey is attending Appalachian State University where he will receive a BS in Industrial Design with a concentration in Furniture Design. Casey’s design achievements include a finalist in ASU’s chair competition in 2014. During his junior year 2013, he received the Celia Moh Scholarship in Furniture Design which is a full two year scholarship. Casey is a member of The Furniture Society, a student member of the American Society of Furniture Designers 2014, and a student member of the American Society of Industrial Designers 2014. He also was awarded an honorable mention at the AWFS fair in 2003.
exhibited work gestalt chair
This chair is a new design in collaboration with Appalachian State’s Industrial Design programs, Interior Design programs and the Architectural Design program to be placed in the Solar Decathlon House, Maison Reciprocity in Versailles France June 2014. The chair is cast recycled aluminum, with welded aluminum components, Schumacher alpaca wool fabric and black walnut accents. It was sketched on paper, digitally rendered, molds created with CNC, cast in aluminum, milled, polished and woodwork all completed on campus. The upholstery was accomplished with the help of a local upholsterer. The Gestalt chair serves as a love seat or a unique one armed occasional chair. Ultimately this series might best lend itself to a contract furniture product line with iterations to be developed. Gestalt is holistic, with the whole being greater than the parts. ephemeral light
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This lamp was conceived as part of the ephemeral light series, which answers man’s quest to harness light. The design is derivative of ephemeral forms in nature. This light embodies a bud or flower coming into bloom.The lamp is constructed of American ash, acrylic and woven cotton fabric with electrical cord supplied by Fabricwire. ephemeral light
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This lamp was conceived as part of the ephemeral light series, which answers man’s quest to harness light. The design is derivative of ephemeral forms in nature. This light embodies a chrysalis hatching. The lamp is constructed of American ash, aluminum and acrylic with electrical cord supplied by Fabricwire.
Rebecca Goddard bio
Now studying Industrial Design at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, Rebecca is actively searching for avenues to expand her understanding of design while working to refine her skills as a craftswoman.Inspired by the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, Rebecca is driven to create a unique design aesthetic which is influenced by nature, propelled by innovation, and crafted to emphasize quality of materials. After graduation, she hopes to bring this aesthetic to the furniture industry as a contract designer.
exhibited work anova
Inspired by the simplicity of cascading waterfalls, the ANOVA Side table translates the concept of fluidity and natural beauty into a stationary form with function. Committed to giving precedence to craftsmanship while accentuating the natural aesthetic qualities of wood, the ANOVA table was designed by mindfully pairing burled black walnut with satin finished aluminum. The drastic contrast in materials suggests hierarchy between the wood and metal, allowing the aluminum accents to seemingly disappear as the beauty of the natural wood grain becomes the main focal point.
Thomas Leach bio
Thomas Leach is an aspiring Furniture Designer from San Francisco, California. He is currently studying Industrial Design with a concentration in Furniture Design at Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Thomas is excited to have two pieces exhibited in this year’s SaloneSatellite in Milan, Italy. One piece titled “Aquemini,” is a hanging acrylic and LED chandelier. The other is a solid walnut full size bed titled “Norse.” Both were designed and built from start to finish by Thomas, and are very contemporary in style. Thomas is eager about the future in hopes that either piece may be picked up for manufacture.
exhibited work norse
Designed to appear as one complete entity when assembled, the Norse bed can completely break down in order to allow for easy mobility and access to small places. Norse is comprised of a marriage of angles that appear to emerge from the floor and terminate into the wall behind the headboard. The bed is connected in a series of angles utilizing “Dominos,” a type of mortise and tennon joinery which allows for maximum strength. The bed is completely detachable because of its employment of “Norse Fasteners,” an inset locking latch that is opened or closed with the simple use of a hex key. This fastener is completely hidden. This American Black Walnut full size bed is contemporary in style and pushes the modern envelope in both design and construction. aquemini
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Designed to both illuminate and mesmerize, Aquemini is a large scale dining room chandelier created to lite up and provide ambiance to a restaurant, bar, or modern home. Consisting of nearly a hundred hanging acrylic rods, the chandelier is illuminated by two large LED bulbs. The light bounces from rod to rod and is captured at the different connection points that make up the chandeliers construction, allowing the eye to dance from place to place while viewing. A white powder coated steel frame supports the acrylic as well as adds to the mirage of light.
Ian O’hare bio
Ian O’Hare is an undergraduate student at Appalachian State University studying Furniture Design. He is a High Point, North Carolina native who was fortunate enough to grow up in the furniture capital of the world. Always interested in working with his hands, Ian was drawn to the furnishing industry at a very young age. His interests range from furniture to product design, drawing inspiration from nature and architecture. Ian has won the “Groovystuff by Design: Connecting Education with Industry Challenge” at the April 2013 High Point Market, and is now being manufactured by Groovystuff. He is also the founder of the “American Society of Furniture Designers Student Chapter” at Appalachian State University.
exhibited work obli lamp
Aimed towards micro-living, Obli serves the function of a floor lamp, task lamp, and pendant all in one. The colorful 16 foot Fabricwire rayon cloth covered cord allows the light to travel across the room and accompany the user to save space and energy. The lamp’s minimal aesthetic and loose constraints create an open-ended experience of applications while the stand’s threaded Birch dowels allow for it to disassemble into five pieces.
toro chair
Drawing inspiration from the classic Klismos, Toro incorporate the design elements of wrapping and exposing to create a visually light and structural form. Stainless steel rods create the rigid and flowing frame as the black walnut seat and back bring warmth and comfort to this side chair/dining chair. Toro was designed for the Solar Decathlon Europe 2014 in Versailles to accommodate Appalachian State’s sustainable home entry.
Richard Prisco bio
Richard Prisco has been teaching industrial design and furniture design for the past 20 years. Prisco’s design experience includes furniture design and lighting, exhibit design, packaging, consumer products and merchandising. He serves on several boards including the Center for Craft Creativity and Design and The Furniture Society and is active on many committees promoting furniture design and craft with in the design community. He is a member of the American Society of Furniture Designers and the Furniture Society. Priscos design work has been exhibited throughout the United States and in Europe. Prisco holds a Master of Fine Arts in Furniture Design and Woodworking from the Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Craft, Rochester, New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
exhibited work derrick
A 21st century side table with a nostalgic mid-century vibe. Modern. Stylish. Utilitarian. The Derrick ships flat, easy to assemble (brugola/hex key only), and easy to disassemble for storing. This is a knockdown with knockout charisma. Made from white painted wood and brushed aluminum legs. Future plans to have tabletop available in molded plastic (translucent and bold opaque colors). Dimensions: 24”Dia x 22 h”
sophia
More than just a table lamp. Tall. Slender. Sculptural. The Sophia’s clean-cut simplicity imparts sophistication and respectability to any environment. It’s red cloth cord adding just a hint of attitude. Made from brushed aluminum, veneered in quarter-sawn fir and shaded in CNC cut, stacked, frosted acrylic. The light source is a 75-watt halogen bulb. The touch switch providing three levels of intensity. Dimensions: 9”w x 9”d x 34”h
Richard Prisco bio
Richard Prisco has been teaching industrial design and furniture design for the past 20 years. Prisco’s design experience includes furniture design and lighting, exhibit design, packaging, consumer products and merchandising. He serves on several boards including the Center for Craft Creativity and Design and The Furniture Society and is active on many committees promoting furniture design and craft with in the design community. He is a member of the American Society of Furniture Designers and the Furniture Society. Priscos design work has been exhibited throughout the United States and in Europe. Prisco holds a Master of Fine Arts in Furniture Design and Woodworking from the Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Craft, Rochester, New York, and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from the University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Jeff Downs bio
Jeffrey L. Downs is a soon to be graduate of Appalachian State’s Industrial Design Program with a concentration in product design. During his studies he ran the machine shop and oversaw the rapid prototyping lab. Jeff re-entered school after gaining experience in fields including protective product packaging, fabrication, and prototyping. He is a Midwesterner by birth, Colorado native at heart and recent transplant to the South. Jeff assisted in production of prototypes and planning.
exhibited work the pills
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The Pills are a decorative installation that also functions as shelving for small objects. The aluminum core is veneered with a black walnut. Walnut is also utilized as the connector between the two halves. The shape is very easily reproducible in different sizes that can lead to an endless variety of different patterns and configurations.
Sheila Sanon bio
Sheilla R. Sanon is a transfer student studying furniture design at Appalachian State University. She earned an Associate of Arts degree in 2011 at the age of sixteen and studied cross-disciplinary subjects at the University of South Florida for two years. Currently a sophomore in her program, Sheilla is passionate about learning and exploring international furniture design. She was a 2013 recipient of the Buick Achiever’s Award and is ecstatic to be presenting lighting at the 2014 SaloneSatellite in Milan. Sheilla looks forward to a career in design and marketing in the sectors of furniture, home goods, and lighting.
exhibited work esari
Esari is a desk lamp that utilizes repelling magnets to create a levitating effect among frosted acrylic rings. Mostly composed of acrylic, maple, and magnets, its simple materials emphasize the designer’s preference to combine both elementary and advanced material and processes to create interactive pieces. Its semi-transparent rings and white base offers a ghosted yet dynamic presence in its environment. Esari is a thoughtful chameleon with timeless charm.