About

Located just a short distance from the residential furniture capital of the world, Appalachian State University’s Industrial Design (BS) - Furniture Design program has a proud history of serving the furniture industry for more than 70 years.  The program is housed in Appalachian’s Department of Applied Design and focuses on design inquiry, creative problem-solving, user research, social and environmental concerns, and manufacturing requirements.

Through industry collaboration, personal exploration and the required Marketing minor, you will develop the necessary skills to compete in today’s furniture market. The curriculum offers a design-based education that emphasizes experiential skills, research, aesthetics, presentation, computer-aided design, critical thinking and professional development. In addition to the studio classes, you will also take foundation courses in product design, computer-assisted drafting (CAD), solid modeling, design drawing, and materials and processes (including wood, metals, plastics, rubbers, fibers and ceramics).

The department advises transfer students to begin the program in the summer in order to complete the program in three years.

See examples of student work

After Graduation

Employment: Students have gone on to a variety of jobs throughout the United States and internationally. See a list of employers in the right column.

Graduate School: Students have also gone on to pursue graduate degrees from Southern Methodist University, Appalachian State University, N.C. State University and Georgia Institute of Technology.

Career Exploration website

People

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  Student Profile: John Lalevee ’19

  Lalevee combined his expertise in furniture design with his enthusiasm for automobiles by designing the body of Appalachian’s newest solar vehicle, ROSE — which stands for Racing on Solar Energy.

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  Student Profile: Ryan Decker

  For the third consecutive year, an Appalachian student has been selected to receive the national Celia Moh Scholarship.

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  Student Profiles: Conscious Furniture Design class

  Four seniors in a studio course worked using the Japanese philosophy of Ma. Their work was showcased at the WantedDesign showcase in New York.

Related Program

• Industrial Design (BS) - Product Design

Minors

View all minors

Engagement Outside the Classroom

Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) - As an extension of the professional organization IDSA, the club participates in portfolio reviews, sets up group tours, hosts professional presentations and travels to district and national conferences.

American Society of Furniture Designers (ASFD) - As an extension of the professional furniture design industry, the club takes factory tours and coordinates visits to High Point Furniture Fair to better connect with the furniture industry.

Global Learning

Appalachian is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

Industrial Design has created a strong relationship with the Howest Academy in Belgium with student exchanges and the sharing of class experiences.  Also, summer studios are frequently taught in Prague, Czech Republic.

Admission Requirements

There is not an added requirement for initial admission, but there is a portfolio review after the student completes an introductory class sequence which will allow the student to take upper-level classes.