Cedarville Magazine Spring 2022

BY HE I D I E RAINE ’ 23 HE Cedarville University’s industrial and innovative design major is training its graduates to serve as industry leaders in the professional design field. The growing list of graduate success stories is sure to inspire the next generation of future innovators to soar. The industrial and innovative design (IID) major came into being at Cedarville more than 12 years ago through a partnership with the Columbus, Ohio-based International Center for Creativity (ICC), but the discussions and customization of this program began almost 20 years ago. CREATIVE EDUCATION FOR CREATIVES After selling their marketing firm in 2001, ICC co-founders Tom Balliett and Jim Stevenson were searching for a new venture while each doing corporate consulting work in graphic design, industrial design, web design, and marketing. “It all came back to education and how broken it was for creatives,” Stevenson said. “Our thought was, if we can turn what we do — transforming brands and products — into a curriculum, we’ll be filling the need that our clients keep expressing.” Shortly thereafter, Stevenson interacted with Daniel Estes, Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Cedarville, at a church music rehearsal. Estes communicated Cedarville’s desire to pursue more creative professional programs, and this conversation paved the way for Cedarville’s partnership with the ICC. Beginning in fall 2010, Cedarville welcomed its first class of IID students to the world’s only evangelical Christian industrial design program, piloting a unique structure that continues to thrive today. Students complete their first two years of study on Cedarville’s campus, and they transition to the ICC studios for the last two years of their program. “Without the diligent work of so many, including Prof. Terry Chamberlain [Associate Professor Emeritus of Fine Art], Dr. Steve Winteregg [former Associate Academic Vice President for the College of Arts and Sciences], and Dr. Duane Wood [former Academic Vi ce Pres ident ] , this program would have never seen the light of day.” The first IID class, three internal transfer juniors coming from business, engineering, and Beginning in fall 2010, Cedarville welcomed its first class of IID students to the world’s only evangelical Christian industrial design program. Cedarville leaders are always on the lookout to grow the University’s academic footprint with the latest in-demand programs to train students to become cutting- edge leaders in emerging career fields. From industrial and innovative design to the developing PA program, cyber operations, information technology management, and interactive web design, and more, Cedarville develops programs to prepare today's students for roles of Gospel influence in tomorrow's rising industries. Cedarville Magazine | 19