3/14/2024

Student open to wherever art takes her with AmeriCorps ArtistYear Program

Integrated studio arts senior Marielle Denning is preparing to enter the ArtistYear program, which will allow her to enrich the arts curriculum of a school district in Denver. An accomplished painter, Denning says the open-minded approach she learned studying art at Iowa State will guide her in her new endeavor.

Robotic Fabrication Workshop

Shelby Doyle , associate professor of architecture and Stan G. Thurston Professor in Design-Build, will co-lead the "So You Want to Print With a Robot? Introduction to Robotic 3D Printing with Land Kit" workshop at the Robotic Fabrication in Architecture, Art and Design Workshop in Toronto in May.

The What's Good Project Exhibition

Jennifer Drinkwater: The What's Good Project, an exhibition of work by Jennifer Drinkwater , associate professor of art and visual culture, is on display through April 25 at the Penn Central Mall in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The 15-painting series is inspired by conversations she's had with residents of Oskaloosa.

Arredamento Architecture Journal Feature

Firat Erdim , associate professor of architecture; Run-Qiang Lin , Luke McDonell , Peter Miller and Samarth Vachhrajani , all of whom received their bachelor of architecture in 2022; and Micah Berger , a third-year architecture student, had their project "the space between the invisible cities" on Italo Calvino , an Italian writer and journalist, featured in the January/February issue of the Arredamento architecture journal.

They were invited to contribute to this issue of the journal because of Erdim's pedagogical approach to the "Bastards of Istanbul" studio these students participated in, which brought together literary and architectural perspectives in the study of a city.

Their work is also part of an exhibition at the Kiraathane House of Literature in Istanbul through March 22.

College-by-College Pitch Off Finale Award

Ian Hutchinson , a senior in industrial design who is concurrently working on his master of business administration, won second place ($2,500) in the New Idea category of the College-by-College Pitch Off Finale hosted by the ISU Pappajohn Center of Entrepreneurship.

GDUSA Students to Watch 2024

Graphic design senior Sophia Lee and graduate student Maegan Luckiesh were selected as Graphic Design USA Students to Watch 2024 .

Communication Arts 65th Illustration Annual Awards of Excellence

Miriam Martincic , assistant teaching professor of graphic design, received two Awards of Excellence and had seven pieces shortlisted in the Communication Arts 65th Illustration Annual , a juried international illustration competition and publication. Out of 3,639 entries, 148 entries won Awards of Excellence. The winners will be published in the May/June 2024 issue of Communication Arts .

Lifetime Achievement Award

Kotaro Nakamura , AIA, professor and chair of the Department of Interior Design since July 2023, received a 2023 Robert Mosher Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter at a Feb. 28 ceremony. He was recognized for his distinguished career, his unique and meaningful contributions to architecture and his professional legacy of more than four decades serving in the dual roles of highly respected educator at San Diego State University and principal of the award-winning firm RNT Architects.

Workshop Host

Bruno Oro , assistant professor of industrial design, has been invited to host the "Redefining Assistive Equipment as Personalized Empowerment Tools" workshop at the Design in Mental Health Conference, Exhibition and Awards in Manchester, England, in June.

Octagonal 2024 All Media Show

Works by five College of Design student, staff and alumni artists were recognized with top awards in Octagonal 2024: The All Media Show , on display through Saturday, March 30, in the Community Gallery at the Octagon Center for the Arts in Ames.

Carolyn (Thompson) Abbott (BS 1987 Applied Art) won Best of Show for her textile piece, "Autumn Birch and Lake." Natalie Deam , graduate student in integrated visual arts, received the Paper Award for "Birds and Bees"; Katie DuVal Mihelich (BFA 2018 Integrated Studio Arts / MFA 2023 Integrated Visual Arts), lecturer in art and visual culture, received the Metal Award for "All Choked Up"; Meghan Flynn  (BFA 2011 Integrated Studio Arts) received the Painting Award for "Self Portrait 2019"; and Catherine Reinhart (BFA 2008 Integrated Studio Arts) received the Fiber Award for "Confession."

Global Innovation Awards Excellence in Student Design

Davi Patterson , senior in industrial design, received an honorable mention for her "WinkWall" decorative wall organizer in the International Housewares Association's 31st Annual Student Design Competition . (Move the slider to "2024 Honorable Mentions.") She designed the product in the fall 2023 INDD 301 junior studio taught by associate teaching professor Dan Neubauer (BFA 2011 Integrated Studio Arts / MID 2015 Industrial Design).

C-IDEA Design Awards Jury

Graphic design assistant teaching professor Christopher Scott is one of 44 representatives from 26 countries selected to serve on the jury for the 2024 C-IDEA Design Awards .

Make a Note

• 2024 Alumni Award Nominations — Do you know an alum who contributes to the advancement of design through personal achievement, exceptional support or extraordinary service? Nominate them today for a College of Design alumni award! Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 29.
• Forever True Day — Mark your calendar for April 3–4 to join the Cyclone community for Forever True Day, a 24-hour online giving celebration! Forever True Day kicks off at noon CDT on Wednesday, April 3, and you'll have 24 hours to make an impact. Visit the Forever True Day website to learn how you can support the College of Design. Make a gift >>
• DesignIntelligence Surveys — Alumni of the architecture, interior design and landscape architecture programs (bachelor's and master's) who have hiring experience in your firms and organizations are asked to complete the 2024 DesignIntelligence Professionals Perspectives of Design Education and Professional Readiness Survey by Saturday, March 30. If you received your degree within the last three years, you're asked to complete the 2024 DesignIntelligence Students Perspectives of Design Education Experience Survey . Your input is crucial in shaping design education's future and guiding the next generation of leaders in our fields.
• Faculty Retirement Card Shower — Four College of Design faculty members — art and visual culture professors John Cunnally and Chuck Richards and teaching professor Nancy Thompson , and graphic design associate professor Lisa Fontaine — will retire at the end of this academic year. Alumni are invited to send cards to any/all of these retiring faculty for a SURPRISE card shower. Please mail cards addressed to the individual faculty members c/o Amy Bannister , 146 College of Design, 715 Bissell Road, Ames, IA 50011-1066, in time to arrive no later than Friday, May 3, 2024.

Noteworthy Alums

Sara Davids Poetting

BLA 2016 Landscape Architecture

Sara Davids Poetting , PLA, ASLA, received the Metzger/Zimmerman Emerging Professional Award from the St. Louis chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Michael Gaunt

BLA 1993 Landscape Architecture

Michael Gaunt , PLA, has joined the Coralville, Iowa office of McClure as a senior landscape architect.

Chris Haar

BLA 1993 Landscape Architecture

Chris Haar was promoted to senior national EGD account executive at Archetype .

Ken Hagen

BArch 2003 Architecture

Ken Hagen was promoted to K-12 region leader at OPN Architects in Des Moines.

Jenny Irey McGowan

BFA 2003 Integrated Studio Arts

Jenny Irey McGowan started a new position as concept designer at Creo: The Playground Builders .

Kristin Lewis

BArch 2006 Architecture

Kristin Lewis was promoted to principal at OPN Architects in Des Moines.

Abigail Luchsinger

BA 2019 Interdisciplinary Design / MID 2021 Industrial Design

Abigail Luchsinger has started a new position as senior coach training sales advisor at Co-Active Training Institute .

Catherine Mores

BFA 1999 Visual Studies

Catherine Mores was selected to participate in Kansas City's Parade of Hearts , a community public art experience involving 100 local artists using 5-foot fiberglass heart-shaped forms. They will be available for public viewing mid-April through August. This is her second time participating.

Carey Nagel

BArch 2001 Architecture

Carey Nagel , FAIA, principal at BNIM Architects in Des Moines, has been elevated to AIA Fellow and will receive his fellowship medal at the American Institute of Architects National Convention in Washington, DC, in June.

Lighton Nakidde

MCRP 2023 Community & Regional Planning / Certificate 2023 Geographic Information Systems

Lighton Nakidde has joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as a data analyst for the Community and Economic Development and Farm, Food and Enterprise Development units.

Cameron Nayman

BArch 2022 Architecture

Cameron Nayman became a licensed architect in Illinois and was promoted to architect at Populous .

Kevin Nordmeyer

BArch 1987 / MArch 1990 Architecture

Kevin Nordmeyer , FAIA, principal at BNIM Architects in Des Moines, has been elevated to AIA Fellow and will receive his fellowship medal at the AIA National Convention in Washington, DC, in June.

Catherine Reinhart

BFA 2008 Integrated Studio Arts

DWELL , a solo exhibition of fiber art and sculpture by interdisciplinary artist Catherine Reinhart , is on display in Wartburg College's Waldemar A. Schmidt Art Gallery through March 25.

Robert Rock

BLA 2003 Landscape Architecture

Robert Rock has launched his own firm, Rock Design Associates LLC.

Abigail Rose

BDes 2014 Design / MCRP 2016 Community and Regional Planning / MUD 2016 Urban Design

Abigail Rose joined the board of directors as marketing co-chair at Women in Planning & Development Chicago .

Kate Schwennsen

BA 1978 / MArch 1980 Architecture

Kate Schwennsen , FAIA, is featured in the American Institute of Architects' Future Focused series that highlights underrepresented architects and designers. She shares how the culture of the architecture profession has changed regarding gender equity in the past four decades.

Alyanna Subayno

BArch 2020 Architecture

Alyanna Subayno , Assoc. AIA, NOMA, an intern architect at Neumann Monson Architects, is featured in the American Institute of Architects' Future Focused series that highlights underrepresented architects and designers. She shares how her Filipino culture informs her approach to architecture.

Kathy Svec

BS 1970 Art Education

Artist Kathy Svec 's Words Illustrated exhibition is on display from Feb. 17–April 13 at the Gallery in the Round in Ames. She will share her work during the Ames Community Arts Counci's Gathering of Artists from 6–8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the gallery.

In Memoriam

Steven Padgitt

Steven Padgitt (BS 1965 Agricultural Journalism / PhD 1971 Rural Sociology), 80, of Ames, died Oct. 27, 2023, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. He joined the Iowa State faculty as a visiting associate professor in 1980 and moved into a tenure-track assistant professor position in sociology in 1982. He was promoted to associate professor in 1986 and full professor in 1994. He held an appointment with ISU Extension and Outreach from 1999–2005 and retired from Iowa State as a professor emeritus of sociology in April 2006.

Upon retirement, Padgitt turned his attention to addressing hunger and food waste in his community, leading to an integral role with Food at First, where he served on the board and participated in grant writing. Memorial contributions may be made to Food at First, 611 Clark Ave., Ames, IA 50010.

Carole Tiernan

Carole Jean Polis Tiernan , 79, of Washington, DC, died at home Oct 12, 2023, after a long battle with metastatic cancer. She was a visiting lecturer in architecture at Iowa State University from November 1997–August 1978 and served as an assistant professor from September 1978 — when the first group of students entered the newly established College of Design — through August 1985. She was the first female faculty member hired in architecture at Iowa State since Mabel Huey Cowgill , who began teaching in 1915.

Tiernan went on to shape the next generation of architects at Ball State University and Washington University in St. Louis, as well as found the architecture and design research group Palmer Tiernan Associates with her husband, Sonne Palmer. A memorial service is planned for June. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Upcoming Events

• Unveiling an Interactive and Immersive Virtual Reality Experience Through Digital Construction of a Historical Landscape Painting: Hang Yuan MFA Exhibition , March 18–22, Gallery 181 More >> Closing Reception , Friday, March 22, Gallery 181, 5–8 p.m. More >>
• Jingdezhen Ceramic University International Ceramics Exchange Exhibition: Pinchang Lyu Presentation , Monday, March 18, 130 Design, 11–11:45 a.m. More >>
• Machine as Human/Human as Machine AI Symposium , March 21–22, Memorial Union More >>
• P.H. Elwood Lecture in Landscape Architecture: Erica Christenson and Satoko Muratake, TEN x TEN , Wednesday, March 27, Kocimski Auditorium (101 Design), 5–8 p.m. More >>
• Richard F. Hansen Lecture in Architecture , Friday, March 29, Kocimski Auditorium (101 Design), 4:30–5:30 p.m. More >>
• Donald R. Benson Memorial Lecture: Hunter Vaughan, Thursday, April 4, 127 Curtiss, 6–7:30 p.m. More >>
• Mainframe Studios AVC Alumni Artist Residency Artist Talk: Lorena San Elias Martinez , Friday, April 5, 130 Design, 3–4 p.m. More >>
• Curt F. Dale Guest Lecture in Architecture: Traumnovelle , Friday, April 5, Kocimski Auditorium (101 Design), 4–5 p.m. More >>
• Core Design Program Exhibition , April 5–11, Gallery 181, Closing Reception , Thursday, April 11, 6–8 p.m . More >>
• An Archive of Witch Fever: Xiaowei Wang Virtual Lecture , Wednesday, April 10, Zoom , 5:30–6:30 p.m. More >>

Questions? Contact designotes@iastate.edu .