The College of Design has a rich tradition of using computer-aided techniques and equipment in the classroom and studio. The use of computers and related technologies has become a ubiquitous part of the college's pedagogy and environment.

Michael Miller, Information Technology Officer

Mike's job is to make sure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. He serves on the college cabinet, executive council and administrative team. Between meetings he tries to act as problem solver for the various areas and is the main contact for purchasing equipment and software in the college. His research interests include database design and Web interface design.

Dan Carlisle, Faculty and Staff Support

Dan is very active with helping faculty and staff maintain and support their equipment. He was also influential in the first phase of providing wireless access in the building.

Jennifer Nieland, Lab Manager

Jennifer manages the public labs and the 20-some student helpers we recruit each year. Last year she was asked to take on additional responsibility by managing the college's output center. Her work with OSX software and management of large groups of OSX computers has been recognized nationally.

Matt Kutzli, Laptop Lease Coordinator

Matt's job is to support and maintain the nearly 500 laptops that the college owns and re-leases to students in the enrollment-managed professional programs. His job has become more complex with the influx of new viruses and other security flaws that are more difficult to contain on mobile machines.

Computer Labs

The college supports three public labs with a total of 80 machines. These labs are open to students from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. during the week and additional hours on the weekends.

Design Output Center

The Output Center, located near the computer labs on the fourth floor, includes black-and-white printing, color printing, 3D printing, wide-format color and black-and-white printing and a laser cutter.

Durham Visualization Lab

This lab contains six high-end machines for doing advanced graphics, editing and rendering tasks. It also includes a wide-format scanner (40") and a 3D scanner as well as slide scanners and a flatbed scanner.

Cyber Cafe

This collection of machines, centrally located on the first floor of the college, originally was installed as part of a student design-build project. They are some of the most heavily used machines in the building.

Satellite Labs

We also support machines in studios and in the Armory and the photo lab in the basement of the Design building.

Projection Areas

We have expanded the projection capabilities in the college's critique spaces through several design-build projects. There are two plasma screens and one projector, all with sound capability, located in the public critique areas on the third and fourth floors. These areas help students show their digital work alongside their traditional work.

Design X.PoRT Center

This room began as our Iowa Communications Network distance-education facility. Over the last several years, though, we saw its function changing, so in the winter of 2004, we reconfigured the room into a digital studio where classes can be recorded onto DVD or VHS for distribution to distance learners.

GIS Graduate Lab

This 14-station facility was designed by the 2003 design-build team of architecture and interior design students. It was designed for short courses for professionals as well as advanced graduate work. The lab also contains a 3'x5' digitizing tablet as well as a 40"-wide scanner.

 

Programs

Laptop Lease Program

In its fifth year, the laptop-lease program supports about 500 machines. This program helps put high-end laptops in the hands of our students so that their computing experience becomes more ubiquitous and natural.

Equipment Checkout

Through grants from the university's Computation Advisory Committee and student fees, we have expanded our collection of equipment available for checkout by students. We have portable projectors, still digital cameras, digital video cameras, drawing slates and more. You can see the whole list on the Output Center pages. Equipment is checked out from the Design Output Center on the fourth floor.

Microsoft Campus Agreement

In 2004, the college decided to enter into the student agreement portion of the Microsoft Campus Agreement. This means that all College of Design students can get Microsoft software for just the cost of the media! To purchase this software, go to

http://www.it.iastate.edu/mss/. There are instructions on the site for logging in and the process you will need to follow. The current media price for most software is $6.

Autodesk Software

The college of Design has two programs for students wishing to use Autodesk software like AutoCAD, Architectural Desktop, RevIT or 3D Studio MAX.  The first is a free program from Autodesk.  Please go to http://www.architectsrule.org  Here, you will enter your email address and get signed up for a special design portal.  This site includes free downloads for RevIT, Inventor and VIS.  If you are interested in buying a box copy of software, please visit http://iastate.e-academy.com  This site includes all Autodesk software and is easy to use.

Adobe Software

Students in the college can order adobe software directly from the bookstore.  Departments should always buy a LICENSE copy (not the boxed set).  You can do this by sending an Intramural to Eryn Shriver (294-3702) in the bookstore.  Put the following information on the Intramural
1. Who the license is for

2. The software title (CS3, Acrobat, Premiere, etc)
3. The platform (Mac or PC)
4. Indicate that you want the maintenance/upgrade plan

Adobe maintenance runs on a 2 year cycle (the latest started July 1, 2007).  So when you purchase maintenance, you will be assured of getting any updates to the products until the end of the cycle.  In addition, when the new cycle starts, you will have the option to continue the maintenance for another 2 years with out having to repurchase the license (very inexpensive way to own adobe products). If you want to buy the actual media, you can do so for a small fee or else let the College IT department know that you have purchased the license and we will install it for you.