INDUSTRY GIVES DESIGN PROGRAMS HIGH RANKINGS

Pratt Institute's graduate program in industrial design was recently ranked 2nd in the country—up from 7th in 2012—based on surveys completed by industry professionals and made available through monthly architecture and design journal, DesignIntelligence (DI). Pratt's undergraduate program in industrial design ranked 3rd in the nation, up from 9th in 2012.

The Institute's graduate program in interior design ranked 3rd in the nation for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the Institute's undergraduate interior design program ranked 4th (was 3rd in 2012), and undergraduate architecture program ranked 11th (was 10th in 2012) in the nation.

Pratt's design programs have consistently been ranked among the top in the nation, with its graduate interior design program ranked 1st in the nation from 2009–2011 and its undergraduate interior design program ranked 2nd in the nation from 2008–2011 and in 2006.

In a skills assessment survey conducted by DesignIntelligence, hiring firms found Pratt Institute's Interior Design department strongest in educating students in the following skill areas: communication; design, cross-disciplinary teamwork; and research and theory. DesignIntelligence's survey of deans and department chairs in interior design ranked Pratt's undergraduate program 2nd in the nation and praised it for its great faculty and quality design work.

DesignIntelligence's skills assessment survey of hiring firms found Pratt Institute's Industrial Design department strongest in design education. Pratt's undergraduate program in industrial design was ranked 3rd in the nation by deans and department chairs in industrial design in a survey conducted by DI. Those surveyed also commended Pratt for its focus on individual students and resulting innovative, creative graduates. Pratt's graduate program in industrial design was ranked 5th for its strong and diverse faculty and professional program.

"The DesignIntelligence rankings showcase the schools that best prepare their students for success in their profession," said Peter Barna, provost of Pratt Institute. "We help students develop critical skills and perspectives on design that prepare them to be leaders in their fields, so it's no surprise that Pratt's programs in industrial design, interior design, and architecture are consistently highly ranked according to DI's surveys," he added.

Pratt's undergraduate architecture program ranked 4th and its graduate program ranked 8th in the East. Among firms in the East, Pratt's undergraduate architecture program was ranked 5th. DI also included alumnus David Tubridy (B. Arch. at Pratt, M. Arch. at Harvard), who is president of Bergmeyer Associates, Inc., in its 2013 Design Leadership Index, which is a sampling of industry leaders in award-winning firms and their graduate affiliations.

The rankings are part of DI's 2013 "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools" issue, which it has published annually since 2000. The journal ranked design programs from throughout the United States based on surveys completed by professionals in architecture and design firms with direct experience hiring and supervising the performance of recent graduates in their fields. These are the only school rankings based exclusively on companies' perceptions of how well schools prepare their graduates for professional practice.

DesignIntelligence is issued by the Design Futures Council (DFC), a global network of design community professionals. Founded in 1995, the DFC aims to advance the design community by exploring trends, changes, and new opportunities in design and architecture.

Text: Amy Aronoff
Photo: Bob Handelman