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UC Is Head of the Class: Design Programs Rank No. 1 and 2 in the Nation
Results are just in from the annual survey of the nations architecture, design and engineering employers (as well as deans and chairs of design programs) by DesignIntelligence magazine.
The survey credits the University of Cincinnati as having the nation's
number one
undergraduate program in interior design. This marks the eighth-straight year that UCs interior design program part of the
College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
has held that number-one ranking. The program was ranked ahead of such rivals as Cornell University and Pratt Institute.
That same survey ranked UCs graduate architecture program as number two in the country. With its number-two architecture ranking, UC was listed just behind Harvard University but ahead of every other program in the nation. This is the second year in a row that UCs graduate architecture program has held the nations number-two ranking.
Also, the universitys undergraduate industrial design program was ranked as number two in the nation. Again, this is the second year in a row that the program held that designation, beating out rivals like the Rhode Island School of Design, Pratt Institute and others. In the surveys regional rankings, the UC industrial design program was ranked first in the Midwest.
Molly California and Dennis Mann
The rankings come as a result of an annual survey by
DesignIntelligence
, a design industry publication of the Design Futures Council. For eight years,
DesignIntelligence
has surveyed organizations throughout the United States to determine which schools produce graduates who meet and exceed the demands of the profession. Hiring managers from the nations top corporations, organizations, municipalities and design firms evaluate recent new hires for practice readiness in a range of disciplines and skills. This
DesignIntelligence
survey is in line with other rankings. For instance,
magazines Oct. 9, 2006, issue listed the worlds top design schools. That listing included UCs School of Design.
As part of its in-depth annual report, DesignIntelligence asks employers and deans to rank the nations design programs according to their ability to teach certain skills. Not surprisingly, UCs interior design program was routinely ranked number one for teaching innovation in design, quality of graphic presentation, cross-disciplinary experience, computer applications, presentation skills, and professional practice (cooperative education).
The qualities most admired in regard to the interior design program, according to deans and chairs of other design program, includes UCs strong technology base, the close relationship at the university between interior design and architecture, and the programs active connections to the profession in the form of its excellent cooperative education system.
UCs leading position in professional practice (cooperative education) is a natural since the university is the global birthplace of cooperative education, having founded the practice in 1906. UCs co-op program which requires students to alternate academic quarters with quarters of paid, professional experience around the world is ranked among the top ten by U.S. News & World Report.
Via co-op, the universitys architecture, interior design and industrial design students regularly work in design firms nationally and internationally throughout the U.S. and in Europe, Asia and Latin America and graduate with about 18 months of practical experience.
Amy Johannigman
There were other areas of design education where UC excelled, according to the
DesignIntelligence
report. In terms of industrial design, UC was number one in teaching research and analysis; materials, processes and engineering-related issues; academic balance (math, writing, liberal arts and sciences) and collaborative learning with business, engineering and other disciplines.
A complete report of more than 100 pages is available from DesignIntelligence. The full report includes salary data for entry-level and more advanced architects and designers, accounts from recent graduates regarding internships, and student demographics.
Below are partials listings of DesignIntelligences 2007 findings
Undergraduate Interior Design Programs
- University of Cincinnati
- Cornell University
- Pratt Institute (New York City)
Graduate Architecture Programs
- Harvard University
- University of Cincinnati
- Yale University
Undergraduate Industrial Design Program
- Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)
- University of Cincinnati
- Rhode Island School of Design
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