UC Design Faculty Member Elected Education VP of National Design Organization

Sooshin Choi, director of the University of Cincinnati’s

top-ranked

School of Design, part of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, sees his new role as vice president of education for the Industrial Design Society of America as a challenging design project in its own right.

“I see this role as a design project,” says Choi, who will begin in two-year term as IDSA vice president of education in May 2012.

He adds that as a global profession, industrial design has been evolving, and American design practice and industrial design education must lead the evolution of future evolve along with current trends.

“American design education has an opportunity to position itself globally as the most internationally aware, compatible and competitive education available,” he states, adding, “The question for me is how can we make design education inclusive yet distinctive, actively engaging end users in the design process.”

Choi, who plans to invite more practicing professionals into the discussion about design education in order to best meet future needs within the profession, submitted his application to serve as IDSA vice president of education because he felt it was important for UC’s industrial design program,

ranked number one

in the latest 2012 DesignIntelligence rankings, to give back to the design community.

Not to mention that he figures he’ll learn more about different design education models, why different schools have different structures and what makes the most competitive programs the leaders that they are.

To his new role, Choi will bring experience both as a practitioner and educator. He worked within the profession for 25 years before entering the education arena eight years ago. He explains, “I’ve worked successfully as an automotive, furniture, and innovative product designer in both Korea and the United States. Now, I see my role as creating future designers and design leaders.”