UMN College of Design

The Kusske Design Initiative (KDI) just published an instructional blog on how to create your own paper out of recycled waste. A paper making kit is available to College of Design students, staff, and faculty. https://kdi.umn.edu/fieldnotes/how-diy-recycled-paper 🌿

Professor of Product Design Barry Kudrowitz was featured by UMN Brief in an article on unique employee workspaces at the University of Minnesota! https://brief.umn.edu/feature/more-desk-inside-look-employee-workspaces

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Scattered across any flat surface in Barry Kudrowitz’s Rapson Hall office are decades of toy and product design prototypes. The joy and creativity of these treasures bring people together for conversation and celebration of design.

Kudrowitz is a professor of product design and head of the Department of Design Innovation in the College of Design at the Twin Cities campus. His collection of prototypes reflects his deep knowledge of creativity, humor and play, as well as the history of himself, his students and the product design program.

Kudrowitz founded and directed the product design program for 10 years, and class projects — like a foam ketchup packet 10 times its original size — would be stored in his office. And while he no longer teaches in his administrative role, new prototypes still find their way to his shelves.

“Overall, I think [my office] is a reflection of me. It’s very playful and creative. It’s overwhelming, over-stimulating and full of ideas.”

Along with student work, many toys he worked on as a graduate student reside in his office. Of note is an early prototype of a Nerf blaster that he co-designed while working with the toy company Hasbro.

“All of these prototypes represent months of work,” says Kudrowitz. “It’s like a mini museum.”

Professor Tom Fisher recently gave a talk focused on recounting the history of Minnesota's malls and a look ahead to what the future of our malls might look like at the Minnesota Historical Society's North Start Voices: The Malling of Minnesota. Watch the full presentation here:

North Star Voices: The Malling of Minnesota Minnesota has the first enclosed mall (Southdale) and the largest m...

With deep sadness, we write to share news of the passing of Professor Emeritus Roger D. Clemence—a transformative teacher, mentor, and leader at the University of Minnesota for over three decades. We invite you to read our full tribute to learn more about his extraordinary life and impact. https://design.umn.edu/news/remembering-roger-d-clemence-educator-mentor-and-builder-community

Joining the faculty in 1966, Roger crossed traditional boundaries to teach Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Studies, and American Studies. He also served as Associate Dean and Interim Dean, always championing the belief that "the way to become a good designer is, first, to be a good person."

Roger’s legacy lives on in the thousands of students and colleagues he inspired.

Ever since sketching themepark rides as a six-year-old inspired by Disney’s Tower of Terror™, interior design graduate Karina Nelson (BS, ‘26) dreamed of creating immersive worlds. Now, after years of blending storytelling, design, and experiential thinking at the University of Minnesota College of Design, she is beginning her career with Walt Disney Imagineering.

Nelson shared her reflections on the mentors, projects, and moments that shaped her path from aspiring “Imagineer” to professional designer. Read the interview with this recent graduate whose entire family, down to her great-grandparents, happen to be UMN alumni:
https://design.umn.edu/news/designing-magic-university-minnesota-disney-imagineering

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Pride Alumni Network is hosting a reception for graduating LGBTQ+ students next Wednesday at 6:00 PM at Sally's Saloon in Minneapolis! This event will feature gifts for students, food provided by the Carlson Pride Alumni Network, and a discussion with College of Liberal Arts Dean, GerShun Avilez. Register to attend: umnalumni.org/pridereception2026

What if one of Minnesota’s most destructive invasive species could be used to bring communities together? Recent landscape architecture graduate Sean Durbin (MLA '26) transformed harvested buckthorn into a handcrafted marimba, creating a joyful new way for communities to engage in ecological restoration through sound, design, and collective action. Read "Alumni Spotlight: Designing Solutions for a Thorny Problem" on the College of Design blog now. https://design.umn.edu/news/alumni-spotlight-designing-solutions-thorny-problem

🎓 Congratulations College of Design graduates! We’re so of what you’ve accomplished and the amazing senior showcase you put together. Thanks to all the friends and family who came out to celebrate your incredible achievements!

🎓 Today's the day graduates! The College of Design Commencement Ceremony will take place Thursday, May 14 with a livestream broadcast available. Check-in for students begins at 12:30 PM, and students must be checked-in no later than 2:15 PM. Please be aware of new security check protocols. You and your guests should plan to arrive early to avoid lines.

Do you have questions about the where to check in on the day of the event, honor cords, tickets, parking, etc? See our Commencement FAQ page! https://design.umn.edu/students/college-design-commencement

Watch the livestream here: https://z.umn.edu/2026designcommencement