How could this be a month ago?! With life moving fast on two continents, Iâm reflecting today on the privilege to deliver a keynote at my beloved alma mater @ncstatedesign , speaking from experience on how tragedy and triumph together can form opportunities for hope, resiliency and joy as a practicing designer. In a place that feels like home, there was potency in returning to offer a message that feels equally close to home. Board meetings achieved. Hugs and high fives delivered. Students mentored. Plans made. I left with a renewed pride in where I come from, in how I was educated and how I could help future generations reach new heights at The College of Design. @idsa_ncsu@ncstate_gxid #ncsu #ncstatedesign #ncstatedesignlife #ncsudesign
"If youâre interested in something â even if itâs not immediately relevant to whatever class youâre in â chase that."
From teaching science in Wake County classrooms to redesigning possibilities through industrial design, Caleb Zanderâs journey has been anything but conventional.
A two-time NC State graduate, Caleb is earning his Master of Industrial Design after nearly a decade as a high school science teacher. What started as late-night woodworking, metalworking and rebuilding motorcycles eventually became a new creative path.
âAt NC State, I learned itâs okay to admit you donât know what youâre doing. Learn from people around you. If you donât understand, ask.â
Through leadership in the Industrial Designers Society of America, mentoring undergraduate students and helping maintain the College of Designâs Materials Lab, Caleb has embraced every opportunity to create, test and explore.
đ đ Are you a graduating designer? Share your story at the link in our bio!
Headphones in, world out đ§
Being a design student in Prague is all about soaking up the cityâs energy and channeling it into our designs. The inspiration never stops! đ¨đżđ
#Design #DesignStudent #Studio #CreativeProcess #Illustration
Commencement is almost here, and we want to celebrate the next generation of designers.
đ Soon-to-be grads: feeling a little nostalgic? Share your story with us!
Send us a grandma-friendly photo (cap and gown, throwback, studio shots, campus momentsâwhatever feels like you) along with a short reflection. You can include:
Favorite experiences or mentors
Lessons that shaped your work
How youâve grown during your time here
Whatâs next after graduation
Shoutouts to the people who got you through
Submissions are open through our May 8 commencement ceremony. Letâs give your time here the sendoff it deserves.
đŠ Use the link in our bio to shout your story from the rooftops.
A huge thank you to all who joined us at Art2Wear 2026! We're so proud of this year's show and grateful for the chance to give you a sneak peek into our design process, interviews, and more through our Instagram Story Takeover. Mark your calendars for next year and thanks again for joining us! @ncsuart2wear
- The Art2Wear Executive Team
#art #ncstate #collegeofdesign
Something is taking shape.
In the seams. In the shadows.
On April 23 + 24, Art2Wear takes over, bringing you a glance behind the scenes from the student minds behind Symbiosis.
Fashion Week takeover. đď¸âĄď¸đ§ľ
From April 19-25, @NCStateWilson and @NCStateDesign are bringing together the universityâs fashion-centered events for one canât-miss Fashion Week.
The weekâs signature events include:
⢠Emerging Designers Textile Showcase
⢠African American Textile Society Fashion ExposÊ
⢠Art2Wear
⢠Emerging Designers Runway Show
đ Get all the details at fashionweek.ncsu.edu
Weâre handing Gerrod full creative control of our profile this Tuesday and honestly, who better? After seeing the Prague vlog he shot while his parents were visiting, we knew he had to take over our profile. From studio/course sessions to a mystery night out, get a real look at what a packed Tuesday looks like for a design student living abroad in Prague!
Spring semester wrapping up â Gerrodâs reflecting on it all. Got questions? Drop them below! âŹď¸ or ask them on the day!
âMy Name is Gerrod Jones, born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, majoring in Graphic and Experience Design, and my biggest reason for deciding to study abroad was to venture out and do something Iâve never done before. I love to travel and explore, take pictures and listen to music. I canât wait to share about my time here in Prague!â
#studenttakeover #designabroad #ncstatedesign
100 designers. Two from NC State.
Lira Gomes + Cameron Johnson have been selected for the Metropolis Future100, a national honor spotlighting the next generation of architects shaping how we live, build and connect.
Grounded in research and driven by experimentation, their work addresses community, culture, inclusivity and sustainability with care and conviction, establishing them as rising voices in the profession.
The @metropolismag class of 2026 comprises 100 exceptional young designers across the United States and Canada whose portfolios demonstrate a shared dedication to purposeful design.
đ¸ Slides 1-3: Projects by Lira Gomes
1ď¸âŁ "Abattoir" | San Francisco, CA
2ď¸âŁ "Pillars of Terroir" | Raleigh, NC
3ď¸âŁ "Bee BnB" | Raleigh, NC
đ¸ Slides 4-6: Projects by Cameron Johnson
4ď¸âŁ "Ro.W. Nature Center" | Manteo, NC
5ď¸âŁ "Peak on the Mount" | Raleigh, NC
6ď¸âŁ "Wilmington Regional Film Center" | Wilmington, NC
đ Read the full story on this incredible accomplishment and see the projects by Lira and Cameron at the News link in our bio
