Two Schools. One Night. All Design.
Melissa Alonso | April 3, 2025 - ATLANTA, GA
Georgia Tech is making design history this spring with the debut of The Biggest Design Show in the South, a first-of-its-kind showcase merging the School of Architecture's celebrated End of Year Show with the School of Industrial Design’s dynamic Launchpad exhibition. This unprecedented event, set for May 1, brings together two powerhouse programs for a massive celebration of creativity, collaboration, and community.
For students, this moment is about more than displaying final projects—it’s about redefining the future of design.
“It’s kind of a big deal,” said Rebecca Scarborough, a third-year Industrial Design student. “I always invite my whole family. There’s something really special about standing back and watching people engage with something you’ve poured your heart into all semester. It’s packed, it’s high energy—and now with both schools involved? It’s going to be electric.”
A Vision Years in the Making
The idea to unite both schools has been building momentum for years, according to Kevin Shankwiler, Undergraduate Program Coordinator for the School of Industrial Design. “This is probably our biggest recruiting and storytelling event,” he said. “We’re not just showing off graduating seniors—we’re showcasing every stage of a designer’s journey, from first-year undergrads to master’s students. Showcasing with Architecture allows us to paint a much broader picture of what design means at Georgia Tech.”
Daniel Baerlecken, Associate Chair of the School of Architecture, added, “The End-of-Year Show is a celebration of student work. It showcases the work of nearly 500 Architecture students across five degree programs. It provides the broader design community—students, practitioners, alumni, educators, designers, and creatives—with insight into innovative ideas and research.”
Baerlecken sees the merger as both timely and necessary. “The lines between design disciplines have always been blurry. Designers work across various scales, from products and furniture to interiors, buildings, and master plans. By merging two events into one, we are intending to create a more impactful event for a broader design audience.”
Real Collaboration, Real Impact
First-year architecture master’s student Abigail Jatczak agrees. “This show isn’t just about projects—it’s about showing how our generation is responding to real-world challenges with creativity and tech. Whether it’s AI, climate change, or urban growth, we’re using design to offer solutions.”
Swathi Kovvur, a third-year undergraduate in architecture, sees this joint platform as a long-overdue bridge. “There’s always been this quiet curiosity about what’s happening on the other side. Now we get to pull back the curtain and say, ‘Look at how much we can learn from each other.’ It’s more than a show—it’s a design community.”
Baerlecken notes that this kind of collaboration isn’t new at Georgia Tech—it’s just finally becoming visible. “In recent years, interdisciplinary design collaboration between Architecture and Industrial Design has been emphasized in studios and research. This event clearly shows the commitment from both schools to foster a design culture that transcends traditional boundaries.”
A Launchpad for the Future
Launchpad has grown exponentially since its early days, once focused solely on graduating seniors. “Now it’s a platform that tells a full story of what we do as a design school,” said Shankwiler. “We reach prospective students, the Atlanta design community, our alumni, and each other. Internally, it’s a way to be inspired by your peers—and this year, that circle just got a whole lot bigger.”
Scarborough shared one of the many meaningful moments she’s experienced at past events: “I once showcased a post-surgical bra for women who had mastectomies, and someone emailed me afterward saying how impactful it was. That’s the kind of encouragement and real-world feedback that makes this event matter.”
Mark Your Calendars
This year’s theme—Two Schools. One Night. All Design.—isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reflection of a shifting design culture at Georgia Tech, one where collaboration isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential.
“The most effective, impactful design education is collaborative,” said Shankwiler. “Real innovation happens where disciplines engage with one another—whether it’s with engineers, architects, scientists, or marketers. And that’s exactly what we’re doing here.”
Visitors can expect immersive displays, interactive prototypes, architectural models, service design installations, and an atmosphere buzzing with the energy of hundreds of future-forward designers. The event is free and open to the public.
Join us on May 1, 2025 at Georgia Tech’s College of Design and see for yourself why this isn’t just a show—it’s a movement.
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