DesignIntelligence ranks three Auburn programs among nation’s best

Auburn University's industrial design, architecture and interior design programs continue to be ranked in the top 10 nationally by DesignIntelligence in its annual survey, "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools 2016."

Based on annual surveys of leading practitioners in their fields, the Industrial Design graduate program in the School of Industrial + Graphic Design in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction is ranked third nationally and has been in the top 10 for the last 10 years. The undergraduate program was ranked fifth and has been in the top 10 since 2007.

The survey considers both the graduate and undergraduate Industrial Design programs to be the best in the South.

Hiring firms rank Auburn's Industrial Design program first in the skill areas of communication skills, construction methods and materials, cross-disciplinary teamwork, planning, research, and sustainable design practices and principles; second in theory; third in computer applications; and fourth in design skills.

The magazine ranked Auburn's Architecture program, in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction, eighth nationally and fourth in the South. For 10 consecutive years, Auburn been ranked in the top 20 nationally.

Hiring firms placed the Auburn Architecture program second in the skill areas of construction methods and materials; fourth in sustainable design practices and principles; fifth in cross-disciplinary team work, and seventh in communication skills.

Architecture deans from across the country rank Auburn fourth nationally "for its highly admired Rural Studio and leadership in community service and design."

"These national rankings reflect the consistently high academic rigor and professional relevance of the design programs in our college," said Vini Nathan, dean and McWhorter Endowed Chair in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. "The exemplary nature of our programs is testimony to the convergence of our bright students, dedicated faculty and staff, supportive administration, generous alumni and advisory boards, and engaged industry partners."

In Auburn's College of Human Sciences, where the Interior Design program is offered in the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences, the undergraduate program is tied for ninth nationally for the second straight year. It was ranked the nation's best in 2012.

In the South, Auburn Interior Design is ranked second, behind the Savannah College of Art and Design. Hiring firms ranked Auburn in a tie for fourth in research skills.

Carol Warfield, head of the Department of Consumer and Design Sciences, credited "a dedicated faculty, high quality students, innovative partnerships and an emphasis on design solutions to improve quality of life" for Auburn's national ranking. She noted that for 15 years 100 percent of Interior Design students have either secured a design-related position or enrolled in graduate school within the first year following graduation.