Sponsored Design Studios

Sponsored Design Studios: An Absolute Necessity

Best Practices for Intellectual Property & Engaged Scholarship

Kern Maass, IDSA & Banks Talley, IDSA, Appalachian State University

Abstract

When planned, structured, implemented and documented properly, industry-sponsored studios
can and should be the poster child for engaged scholarship. Industrial design education,
specifically industry-sponsored design studios, aims to integrate the three critical components of
higher learning: teaching, scholarship and service. These are essential to the best practices of a
thoroughly engaged university as defined by the recently developed Carnegie Classification.
As universities compete to advance and better market themselves to their local community, the
broader community, and prospective students, collaboration/engagement is key. Individual fields
of study must ultimately heed this call as they are the units in the trenches delivering material and
often engaging outside sources. In this battle, industrial design is poised to lead the way and be
the role model for other fields and institutions, especially those trying to become more engaged.

Higher education admissions are extremely competitive, education costs are rising, and academic
institutions are striving to compete for rankings and accreditation. In response to these
challenges, universities can achieve their educational goals and better market themselves
through elective classification within the Carnegie Classification framework.

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