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NC State University Associate Professor Derek Ham Appointed Department Head of Art + Design

2020-06-25T13:42:00-04:00

Associate Professor Derek Ham, Ph.D. has been appointed as the department head of Art + Design at the North Carolina State University College of Design. Ham has taught at the College of Design since June 2015 and was recently promoted from assistant professor.

"I am thrilled to announce that Derek Ham has been chosen as our next Art + Design Department Head," said Mark Hoversten, dean of the college in a statement. "Derek’s background and approach to multi- and inter-disciplinary work makes him a strong candidate in an already competitive candidate pool. I am excited to see the direction he brings to the Art + Design program moving forward."

Ham also serves as the principal investigator for MC Reality Lab, a multidisciplinary practice that works in the virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technology space. Ham holds a Ph.D. in design computation from MIT, an M.Arch from Harvard GSD, and a B.Arch from Hampton University. He will begin his new position on July 1, 2020.

Amazon's new pop-up strategy draws attention to the changing retail environment

2019-03-08T15:28:00-05:00

Amazon, the giant online retailer, is closing all 87 of its U.S. pop-up kiosks, which let customers try and buy gadgets such as smart speakers and tablets in malls, Kohl's department stores, and Whole Foods groceries. It's the latest change in Amazon's bricks-and-mortar retail strategy, which includes bookstores, grocery stores, and cashier-less stores.

Amazon has been a frequent headliner in the news as they prepare for headquarter expansions and retail store changes. However, despite its popularity and rapid consumer fulfillment process, Amazon has decided to discontinue its pop-up kiosk program. A spokesperson from Amazon shared that the decision was based on "creating thoughtful decisions on how to better serve their customers." In place of the pop-up kiosks, the company has expressed its focus on expanding Amazon Books and Amazon 4-star stores. This transition in retail strategy will allow Amazon to focus on a broader selection of products while putting more attention towards customer experience.

Amazon 4-star in New York's SoHo; Image © AFP

Amazon opened its first bookstore in Seattle’s University Village in 2015; Photo courtesy of GeekWire - Image © Taylor Soper)

Amazon 4-star stores appeared on the scene in 2018 at its first retail location in New York. Promotions for the store highlighted curated products across various cate...

The mutual strengths of architects and UX designers

2016-03-28T13:03:00-04:00

As an architect, you have been trained to shape the world according to millennia of design discourse. Giving form to culture is a skill that calls on all the senses and requires a deep understanding of how people interact with their environment [...] architects know how to "design for people," Johns also points out. This is true of architects as well as UX designers. "You have the user's best interest at heart – which requires consistently hearing and understanding them."

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