The Design School at ASU

As the semester is nearing its final stretch, here’s what to look forward to in May 🤩

From Final Reviews week, our annual Community Celebration, ASU Commencement, the Herberger Convocation and even Generous Devil’s offline summer mode event…

It can feel overwhelming, but it’s everything we’ve been working toward.

You’ve got this, finish strong and take it all in!

We were honored to welcome Ahmed Best to The Design School for his presentation, Feel The Future. Centered around Earthling Culture, the session at the MIX Center encouraged students to think about design as a human-centered, ethical practice that extends beyond disciplines. It was a powerful reminder that optimism and imagination are essential in shaping meaningful futures.

Thank you Ahmed Best for visiting The Design School!

We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Nina Sharp, recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award from the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).

This award honors distinguished achievement in research related to the interior environment and its contribution to the field of interior design.

Dr. Sharp’s research advances our understanding of how lighting and environmental conditions impact human health, with a focus on sleep, mood and cognitive performance. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships with the Mayo Clinic, her work translates into evidence-based strategies with real-world impact.

Her work continues to shape the future of evidence-based, human-centered design.

Learn more about her work here: https://news.asu.edu/20250909-health-and-medicine-better-lighting-can-boost-sleep-mood-dementia-patients

Ready to end your Spring semester strong?

Join us for the Community Celebration of The Design School 🎉 on Friday, May 8th, 6–8 p.m.

Immerse yourself in the work our students and your peers have been building all semester, connect with creatives across the community and be part of a night that celebrates design, collaboration and everything in between!

At ASU, Generous Devils, founded by Amy Robinson, is helping remove barriers for students by providing free graphic design supplies, tools and shared resources.

From $200 Color-Aid paper sets to printing costs that can exceed $700, access to materials plays a major role in a student’s ability to succeed.

This Sun Devil Giving Day, you can help expand access, reduce waste and support a more equitable creative education.

📖 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gtJFYXAC

❤️ Support The Design School: https://lnkd.in/gjkw3HmW

Join us for the Generous Devils Open House
🗓 March 19 | 1–3 PM
📍 Design South, Room #20

ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

In celebration of Black History Month, the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS) invites the community to a screening of Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story.

Paul R. Williams, FAIA — often called the “Architect to the Stars” — was one of the most accomplished architects of the 20th century. Despite racial discrimination that often prevented him from being welcomed into the very spaces he designed, Williams built an extraordinary portfolio that shaped the cultural and architectural identity of Los Angeles and beyond.

The evening will include a post-screening Q&A with directors Royal Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance and Shirlyn Cesar, offering insight into the making of the film and Williams’ enduring legacy.

📍 Design North, Room 60, Tempe
🗓 February 27, 2026
⏰ 5:45–7:45 p.m.
🎟 Free and open to the public

We invite students, faculty, professionals and community members to join us for this meaningful conversation on design, resilience and representation.

The 2026 Studio Night brought our community together for an evening of connection, conversation and creativity. This year stood out as one of our most collaborative Studio Nights yet, with meaningful exchanges across disciplines and perspectives.

Designed as a reverse career fair, Studio Night places students behind the tables—giving emerging designers the opportunity to present their work, share their process and engage directly with industry professionals. The energy throughout the evening reflected thoughtful dialogue and a shared commitment to the future of design.

A special thank you to our 2026 sponsors, EAPC Architects Engineers and GH2 Architects, LLC, for supporting an evening centered on professional growth and connection.

We are grateful to our students, faculty and industry partners for making Studio Night a success. If you attended, we’d love to hear your biggest takeaway, tag someone you connected with and keep the conversation going.

ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Indigenous Placekeeping and Design: Designing With the Land, Not Against It

The Design School at ASU has launched a new master’s degree in Indigenous Placekeeping and Design, centered on traditional knowledge, ecological systems and culturally grounded approaches to architecture.

In studio, students are rethinking water systems, housing and climate strategies through Indigenous principles, exploring how design can support belonging, sustainability and well-being. From regenerative landscapes to community-centered housing concepts, their work challenges conventional approaches to the built environment.

Led by Tammy Eagle Bull and founded by Wanda Dalla Costa, the program reflects a powerful shift in architectural education and a commitment to life-centered, place-based design.

Learn more about how this new program is shaping the future of architecture → https://news.asu.edu/20260217-arts-humanities-and-education-new-architecture-program-teaches-students-how-design

New architecture program teaches students how to design with Indigenous principles in mind | ASU News Imagine a Tempe Town Lake free of concrete, its banks lush with native creosote and wildflowers, with winding dirt paths.That visualization was created by a student who applied Indigenous principles to a design problem. Noor Alzuhairi is in the first cohort of the Indigenous placekeeping and design....

We’re proud to share that Max Underwood, FAIA, has been elevated to the 2026 College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects — the organization’s highest membership honor.
Only 78 architects nationwide were recognized this year for exceptional contributions to architecture and society. Underwood, a President’s Professor in The Design School at Arizona State University, is one of just three architects elevated under Object 6 for advancing architectural education and training.

He will be honored on June 11 at the AIA College of Fellows Investiture ceremony during the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design in San Diego.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Underwood on this outstanding achievement.