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Have something newsworthy?

Are you a local company, designer, student who has won an award?  Have you been recognized by some design organization?  We and the design community want to hear about it.  Send us some info and pictures and we'll put it up on the site.  Email us.

Event Posting

Do you have a design related event coming up.  Want some free publicity?  Jot down a brief description with dates and we'll make sure to post it on our site.  Follow up with some pictures after the event and we'll include that too.  Email us.

Aug 20th-22 DXR09 at the Mint Museum of Craft and Design Charlotte, NC

Aug 27th Designers Accord Townhall Meeting
Charlotte, NC

Summer Reading List

June 10-13th App State to host the 2009 Furniture Society Conference

Carolina PDMA chapter and the Carolina IDSA chapter form strategic alliance

For those of you unfamiliar with PDMA let me explain.   PDMA stands for Project Development and Management Association.   The Carolina  PDMA group is a volunteer based organization that works to improve the effectiveness of individuals and organizations in product development and management. They do this by providing resources for professional development, information, collaboration and promotion of new product development and management.

For anyone currently employed in the industrial design field you are fully aware who product managers are.   For students who have yet to enter into the work environment, product managers are often times marketing or R&D folks that initiate product development projects and then oversee them from it’s conceptual stage until it goes to market. They manage the individual product development groups (engineering, graphic design marketing, sales, industrial design, branding, etc.) and focus them in one common direction.  Based on the organization’s product strategy, they set the goals and features of an individual project to meet the markets anticipated needs.  In an ideal world product managers and industrial designers work hand in hand to develop new innovative products.

An alliance between our local groups is seen as beneficial for many obvious reasons:

1)     We get a cross pollination of members at our meetings and events that will bring new insight and new networking opportunities.

2)     Each group gains greater exposure and respect for the value of our two specialized fields.

3)     Good social experiences between our groups will ultimately trickle into better work environments.

4)     We see improvement in what we do when we can anticipate the needs of other groups.  This broader knowledge will facilitate better discussions and bring forth more innovative products in a more effective way.

5)     We can combine our groups’ resources to create better opportunities for our members.  More meetings.  More speakers.  More opportunity. 

As an additional benefit all IDSA members will receive a discount to attend PDMA events at the price of a PDMA member.  When registering for any PDMA event simply enter the code “IDSAVIP” to obtain a discount.  We hope our members will take advantage of this new opportunity and we look forward to seeing you there.

Get A Job (or be prepaired to look for one)

The single most thought on everyone’s mind right now is the economy and how it effects your ability to land a job or securing the one you already have.  This free book written by RitaSue Siegel, IDSA, in conjecture with IDSA gives you the tools you need to be competitive in this tough time.  While it’s no substitution for great work, this book will show you some of the best practices for portfolio design, resume building, self evaluation, and tips for that eventual interview with a perspective employer.  It was written specifically for industrial designers and addresses every issue specific to our trade.  Help you to help yourself by taking some time to read this.  Short on pictures, big on content, and worth every penny.  Download it for free by clicking the link below.

Speaking of getting a job; networking with other professionals and peers is the best way to find out about jobs and to be recommended for one.  Joining Linked In helps you do this by keeping you in touch with others in your design community.  Are you Linked In?

get_a_design_job.pdf
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Download File

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Local designer publishes book

It's not every day a new book comes out on Industrial design.  It's even less often a book on Industrial design is written by someone right here in our own community.  Frederick Reber (founder of Reberstein Design) has written a book titled Chair Wandering.  In it he climbs out of the corporate world to explore the vast and creative possibilities of chair designs.  He encourages industrial designers to do what they do best-design. 


You can pick up a copy of this book at Amazon by clicking here.

Past Events

April 3rd-5th IDSA's Southern District Conference

transform + transcend
New Orleans, LA
Hilton St. Charles
April 3-5, 2009

Are you on board to attend transform + transcend, IDSA's Southern District Conference, which is headed to New Orleans next month? This year's conference will provide stimulating conversation on how the power of design can restore and replenish not just individual lives, but entire communities and societies.

Register before March 27 and save money, something all of us could benefit from!

Click here for more info.

April 23 pdma Crowdsourcing event

April 23, 2009, RTP, North Carolina
What the Crowd Can Do for You:Crowdsourcing and Wisdom of Crowds

From programs like IdeaStorm to IBM's Idea Jam, many organizations are discovering the wealth of ideas and insights available from their customers and business partners. This new term is "Crowdsourcing," which puts to work the wisdom of the masses.

Join Vida Killian from Dell's IdeaStorm, Melissa Blaisdell from Cisco, Richard Nesbitt from IBM's Idea Jam team and Barry Bayus from UNC's Kenan Flagler School for a panel discussion on crowdsourcing. The Panel will be moderated by Jeffrey Phillips from OVO, a leading innovation consulting organization. Expect a balanced discussion that goes beyond the buzz and brings unbiased, research-based perspectives.

Discounts for early registration are available until April 10th.
To get the special IDSA/PDMA member pricing register and use code "IDSAVIP"

Registration and details.

May 1st-9th  DXR 09  Flanders Art Gallery Raleigh, NC

DXR is currently seeking submissions 
the deadline for submissions has been extended to 

March 23rd

DXR ’09 will be a week long celebration of the incredible designers who call
North and South Carolina home and the innovative work being created in these two states. The theme for this year’s event is “Designing Change.” We have a powerful and wonderful design community – it’s time we show the rest of the world what we’re doing to mold our future.

The purpose of DXR ’09 is to present great design to the public and to give designers, both professionals and students, a forum to display and discuss their work. A unique showcase of applied arts coming together as a whole, Design Expo Raleigh promotes broader awareness of many different design disciplines and creates an opportunity for local designers to network with each other, students, and the public.

Among the diverse applied arts to be represented at DXR ’09 are Animation, Architecture, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, and Textile/Fashion Design. Our main Exhibition ’09 will showcase exhibits from each discipline. In addition, there will be lectures featuring both the educational and professional aspects of each discipline, and tours of specific projects giving the public and other designers a unique perspective on a designer’s creation. Also scheduled are gala receptions and a Designer Market allowing designers to sell their works directly to the public.

It is the goal of DXR’09 to stimulate dialogue between students of all ages, professionals, and the general public about design and its role in our lives. Come be a part of it! We are actively looking for volunteers and sponsors who want to show that great design matters to them.

For more information go to the website http://www.dxraleigh.com/ 

Can’t make the show in Raleigh? No sweat.  After Raleigh this show will travel to the Mint Museum in Charlotte to be on display some time in August.  Check back for dates and times.

February 20th Carolina Chapter Happy Hour

Yummy food, tasty drinks, local design talent…  It’s hard to argue with any of that.  We’ll see you Friday Feb 20th at the April & George in beautiful downtown Raleigh.

Make sure you bring your business cards for the raffle of a signed copy of "Chair Wandering" by Fred Reber, and also for the $200 in prototyping from Anvil Prototyping. 

Please let us know if you are planning on attending, and how many people you are bringing so we can make sure we have enough eats. RSVP

The George
414 Glenwood Ave
Raleigh NC 27603

Click for Map

Check out the winners for the "commuter bike for the masses "design competition

Go to http://bicycledesign.blogspot.com/2009/01/design-competition-follow-up.html
or check out this article on Treehugger

"commuter bike for the masses "design competition
 deadline Dec 5th

Ok. so those who frequent this site know that we don't regularly post design contests.  There are simply too many contests to keep up with, too few of us,  and there are tons websites that already do a great great job of promoting those.  We have chosen to mainly focused on promoting the local winners of such events.  (so if you have won an award or recognition for some achievement let us know)  This contest however is being promoted through a local designers blog.  It's also a pretty sweet contest for anyone needing an excuse to do a bike project.  Check out James Thomas's Bike design blog and learn more about this contest by clicking here.  Who can so no to a free Bad Boy?

November 14th  Pine wood derby at NCSU

1st annual pine wood derby at NCSU.  All students, faculty, and professionals welcome to compete.  You don't even need to be present to race.  To order a car you can go by the College of Design at NCSU or order a car kit online ("buy now" option at bottom of screen).  To race you can either come by on the 14th to take part or send them your car and they'll race it for you. Kind of like a mail order pit crew. 


Derby Rules


1. The car weight shall not exceed 5.0 ounces. The official race scale shall be considered final.
2. The overall length of the car shall not exceed 7 inches.
3. The overall width of the car shall not exceed 2 ¾ inches.
4. The car must have 1 ¾" clearance between the wheels.
5. The car must have 3/8" clearance underneath the body.
6. The wood provided in the kit must be used. The block may be shaped any way that is desired.
7. The wheels supplied with the kit must be used. You may remove the seam from the wheels.
8. The axles supplied with the kit must be used. They may be polished or lubricated.
9. The car must not ride on any type of springs.
10. The car must be freewheeling, with no starting devices.
11. No loose material of any kind, such as lead shot, may be used.

Note from the head of inspections at NCSU:

Each car must pass inspection by the official inspection committee before it will be allowed to compete. The Inspection Committee has the responsibility to disqualify those cars that do not meet these specifications. We won’t be too hard on the distances between the wheels and what not. We are having just a "fashion show" section as well, where the rules don’t apply. For example, I hear some are stacking 2 pine wood boxes..and shaping that just to win the styling/ outrages competition. But, I think the real skill is in the race! Good luck!

For more info and to answer any questions please email Kory.

October 23rd Carolina PDMA Event - Developing New Really Good Concepts For  New Product Development

Working on the right thing is as important as working it right. So, the challenge for new product developers at the fuzzy front end of the new product development cycle is to come up with really good ideas to feed into the development and commercialization process. 

This presentation focuses on what the Stage-Gate® model for the 21st Century - a popular system for driving new products to market - calls the Discovery/Idea Stage and what the presentation is calling Stage 0.

Tools and techniques for the fuzzy front end will be reviewed and case studies used to introduce process for Stage 0. 

Attendees will come from this session with ideas and tips they can put into action immediately.


WHEN - Thursday, October 23rd - Networking & Registration 6-6:45 pm; Presentation and Q&A 6:45 – 8:30 pm; Soft drinks and buffet dinner.

WHERE -  MCNC Rooms A/B, 3021 Cornwallis Rd, Research Triangle Park (Durham), NC 27709.

 
http://www.pdma.org/events_detail.cfm?pk_event=149


Sound interested???

Here's the best part....IDSA members get a HUGE discount!  When registering put in promo code 'IDSAVIP'  This gets the registration price down to what PDMA members pay! SWEEEET!

Any questions please contact Claire- Juliette

October 17th  IDSA happy hour at Smiley’s Acoustic Café

October 17th    SC upstate ID studio tour

Be there when several locally based, international companies open up their doors for the first time to the outside visitors.  CCi, Electrolux, and Michelin are 3 giants in the product design field.  On October 17th they welcome a limited few to tour through their facilities and see what it’s like working for a corporate design firm. This will be a must see for any student of industrial design.  Stay tuned for exact times and tour specifics.  Online registration will be coming soon.
Click here for more details. 

October 11th, 2008
The Appalachian State University, Student IDSA Portfolio Review

 
The Appalachian State University student chapter of the Industrial Designer's Society of America would like to invite you to our Professional Design Portfolio Review on Saturday, October 11, 2008 at the ASU campus in Boone, North Carolina. 

The event will take place on Saturday, October the 11th and will promptly begin at 10AM in Plemmons Student Union in a reserved conference room. There will be brief opening remarks and then students will be able to visit professionals for portfolio reviews. Each student will have fifteen minutes with a design professional; or a group of design professionals. The session will then break at 11:30, to allow attendees to enjoy a provided lunch and breathe some clean mountain air. The review will reconvene at 1 p.m. The afternoon session will continue until 3:30PM, or until all interested students have visited the attending professionals. A social gathering will take place in the evening for those who wish to attend. This will allow the students to socialize, network and spend some informal time with the professionals. 

An RSVP is required by September 26th, so we have an accurate headcount of attendees. Students, please bring professional-quality design portfolios; which will be viewed by other students from schools all over the southeast and professionals from many diverse backgrounds and venues. Also, rooms will be reserved at local hotels to assist incoming students, professors, and professionals who wish to stay in the mountains.

If you have any questions, feel free to send an Email to the ASU IDSA address provided, or call the ASU IDSA Events Coordinator: Justin Fox at (828) 962-8404. We look forward to hearing from you and we hope to see you at ASU on October 11th.

Aug 15th - Oct 3rd 
Art by Design Show

For those of you in or around the SC upstate you might want to take time to check out the Art by Design Show at the Anderson Arts Center.  The opening reception will be on Friday, August 15th @7pm at the Anderson Arts Center.  The show will run until October 3rd.  On display will be examples of applied design by companies and individuals.  In addition to industrial design, will be local examples of interior design, architecture, landscape design, graphic design, and much more.  The goal of this show is to highlight design and show the public how design plays a role in their everyday lives.  Click here for a map and directions.

Sep 10-13 IDSA National Conference

Why not take a break from the summer time heat and head out to sunny Phoenix, Arizona......urr never mind.  This year’s national conference goal is all about "coming together to share our concerns and strategies for successfully navigating the current conflicting forces in the design and the global economies" How about that.  Check out the list of great speakers and the sessions lined up thus far.  Registering is only a click away.

More information for this event can be found at: http://www.idsa.org/polaropposites/overview/index.html

2008 RTP Product Design Street Fair
September 13th 3:00-6:30

Don't forget about the RTP Product Design Street fair thats fast approching!

If you a second, print out the attached flyer and post it around the office, hand it out to people on the street, make paper airplanes out of them and toss them around to your friends at the office.



For more information get in touch with Montie Roland and Montie@montie.com or 919-481-1845

Inviting IDSA members to PDMA's Sizzling Innovation July 24.

Join PDMA Carolinas July 24 at its first event in the Triad, an evening that combines networking and hands-on team-based learning. Teams will be challenged to innovate around user needs while grilling and honing their own new product development processes. The winning teams will be those that come up with the best innovation to serve the needs of the grilling community. Tod D. Brown, President, Blue Rhino, and Dave Moret, Vice President of Product Development and Engineering for Newell Rubbermaid's Décor Global Business Unit, will be members of our jury.

After a brief presentation we'll hone observation skills around the grill, take notes, and then try to apply some Systematic Innovation techniques, brainstorm, and generate new product ideas. Winning teams will take home Calphalon ustensils and grills!

Key benefits:
• Improve your grilling skills
• Improve your ability to observe users under the influence of distracting food and drinks
• Get familiar with some principles of systematic innovation

 Going?  Don't for get to use this promo code for %20 off your registration fee!


For More information check out the Carolinas PDMA Site

May 1st App State Industrial Design final project Critique

This year marks the first class of seniors to graduate from AppState with the Bachelor of Industrial Design degree.  The first class of 12 students are graduating this May. Before graduating each senior had to present and defend their final projects to a panel of judges.  Local design professionals Vincent Gardner (School of Communication Arts, Raleigh), Ryan Harrison TTI, SC), Chad Everhart (Assistant Professor of Building Science at ASU) and Kern Maass (Assistant Professor of Industrial Design (Furniture Design) at ASU) were on hand to review the student work and provide feedback.  Several people at the event commented on the high quality of student work was given the short time the program has been has been in existence.  Seems like we can only expect more good things to come.

April 10th  Meet greet drink and fashion show (or MGDFS for short)

Head: Pre-Gaming In Carolina

By Don Corey, Eastern Carolina Chair

    Prior to melting into the crowd of nearly 3,000 who assembled for North Carolina State’s Art to Wear Fashion Show on Apr. 10, twenty plus designers and design students from the Raleigh area gathered at the George restaurant for a Carolina Chapter Meet N Greet.
  

 As business cards from companies like Lenovo, Sony/Ecrisson, Insight Product Development and The Other Edge, Inc. were swapped, members and non-members alike got to exchange ideas and briefly share design philosophies.
  

When the show commenced, designers delighted at 14 student-designed collections, which featured new techniques in weaving as well as re-purposed beer cans. 
  

Our chapter is working to bring events to other parts of the Carolinas this spring and summer. Check out the Carolina site for more information and upcoming events..

Mar 6-8  Southern District IDSA Conference

The southern IDSA conference went on down in Savannah GA this year.  This years conference had informative speakers, great facilities, and beautiful backdrop with tons to do and see.  Thank you SCAD for opening up your doors to this event.  Take a look at some of the photos from the event below.

Photos from the Southern District Conference

Feb 22 NCSU Student Merit Competition

Both Appalachian State University and NC State University chose their Student Merit Award representatives this week in separate events. On Tuesday night, after great presentations by Russ Hagan, Zach Thomas, Robert Parsons, and Robert Ward, Appalachian State picked Robert “Bobby” Ward. The judges were Banks Talley III, Dr. David Domermuth, and Donald Corey. And on Friday Night in the Burns Auditorium, Christine Beauchamp, Smith Newnam, Jeff Poon, and Kevin Terwilliger each presented wonderful work for their judges to consider. After intense deliberation judges, Warren Ginn, Allen Nelson, and Donald Corey announced Smith Newnam as the NC State Program’s Representative. Please wish our winners well as they prepare to compete at the Southern District Conference in Savannah.