APDesign brings design disciplines together under new name

From the spaces people inhabit to the furniture and products they use, design increasingly crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. Kansas State University's College of Architecture, Planning & Design is embracing that interconnected approach by combining several existing programs into the newly named Department of Design.

The Department of Design brings together four complementary areas of study — the master's program in interior architecture, the master's and minor in industrial design, a certificate in furniture design and bachelor's of interior design — creating a unified academic home for students exploring the many ways design can shape environments, objects, experiences and everyday life.

The name reflects the department's evolving identity and the breadth of its design education. With disciplines spanning the scale of interiors and environments to furniture and products, the Department of Design will provide students with expanded opportunities to collaborate across design fields, experiment with emerging technologies and materials, and develop solutions to complex challenges through human-centered design.

"Design today is increasingly interconnected," said Michael McClure, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning & Design. "The new Department of Design recognizes the incredible range of work happening within these programs while creating a stronger platform for collaboration, innovation and exploration. This is an exciting step forward for our students, faculty and the future of design education at K-State."

A broader vision for design

The department's evolution builds on years of growth and transformation. In 2020, K-State renamed the then-Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design to the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design following the addition of industrial design. In 2024, the interior design program moved from the College of Health and Human Sciences to APDesign, strengthening connections among disciplines committed to human-centered, research-based design.

Furniture design, embedded in the interior architecture and industrial design degree paths, further expands the department's creative, making-focused opportunities, enabling students to explore design at the scale of the object while engaging with materials, fabrication, ergonomics and craft.

Recent K-State coverage highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the furniture design experience and its emphasis on experimentation, prototyping and making.

"Calling ourselves the Department of Design gives us a name that better captures who we are and where we are going," said Nathan Howe, professor and head of the Department of Design. "Our students are designing across scales — from interiors and furniture to products and experiences — and they are learning to approach complex problems with creativity, curiosity and purpose. Bringing these areas together under the Department of Design makes that breadth visible and creates even more opportunities for our students to learn from one another."

Preparing the next generation of design thinkers

The department's approach is grounded in innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and applied learning, preparing students to become creative problem-solvers and leaders across an expanding design profession.

The new name also positions the department for continued growth as the boundaries between traditional design disciplines become increasingly fluid. Students will benefit from a community that encourages them to move between scales, disciplines and methods — combining conceptual thinking with hands-on making, research and real-world application.

"The future of design belongs to people who can see connections others might miss," McClure said. "By bringing these programs together, we are creating an environment where students can think broadly, make boldly and understand the profound impact design can have on people and communities."

The Department of Design is part of K-State's College of Architecture, Planning & Design in Manhattan, Kansas. The department is led by Nathan Howe, who has served as department head since 2017 and brings extensive experience in design education, research and emerging technologies.