Design Professor Alison Popp’s Panel with AIGA

The panel explored student-run design firms operating on college campuses.

February 12, 2021

On February 26, College of Business Design Professor Alison Popp presented at the Professional Association of Design (AIGA) Design Educators Community (DEC) panel. This opportunity allowed Professor Popp to explain the reality of running a faculty-advised, student-run design firm on a college campus. 

Professor Popp joined Gaby Hernández and Jeff Joiner (from the University of Florida and Virginia Tech, respectively) on a panel to explore the opportunities and challenges such an arrangement raises. 

Her experience on this topic comes from the College of Business’s own Design Project Center, which impressed attendees with its rich history, stretching back nearly 30 years. She explored such topics as how much freedom to give students, what teaching looks like in such an environment, and how to handle mistakes. She also participated in a discussion and Q&A, where she joined the rest of the panel in answering questions from educators. 

“I explained our unique place in the College of Business and the heavy weight we place on this required experience,” she said of the process. 

The Design Project Center is a critical part of the senior and junior year of the Design major. It continues to produce high-quality work for real clients to prepare students for the industry. 

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