Introducing the College of Design at Georgia Tech

Effective today, Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture will be called the College of Design.

The new name is a more accurate reflection of the wide range of academic programs and work that occurs in the research centers and Schools of Architecture, Building Construction, City and Regional Planning, Industrial Design and Music.

The name showcases the College’s strengths and innovation in the multifaceted aspects of design, said Steven P. French, dean and John Portman Chair of the College of Design.

“This name change will mark an exciting new chapter for our College and the work of our students, faculty, staff and alumni,” French said. “We intend to broaden the definition of design at Georgia Tech through our academics and research. We will draw the connection between design and today’s uniquely human experiences, from buildings and cities, to products and soundscapes.”

The College has been discussing a name change for about 20 years to better capture its range of academic and research activities.

The number of academic programs offered by the College has doubled over the last decade, and three quarters of the degrees are not rooted in architecture. In response, the 2014 Strategic Plan suggested exploring a new name. 

“Our architecture school is unique in how it combines design, the latest technologies and the influence of our professional practice partnerships,” French said. “But when you look at the College as a whole, you begin to understand we have a much broader range of design capabilities that shape how people live.”

The College engaged Armchair Media to conduct a positioning study and narrow the field of potential names. The company submitted potential names based on extensive surveys and interviews with faculty, staff, alumni, students and prospective students.

The College of Design best fit the College’s output as well as its environment. Academic work and research utilize the methods and conclusions of design to create products, buildings, neighborhoods, cities and human experiences, French said.

“The College of Design will be the premier college for technology-focused design education,” French said.

Learn more about the College of Design here: www.design.gatech.edu.