About
Rusty Lay serves as Associate Professor and Industrial Design Program Chair within Auburn University's School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD), part of the College of Architecture, Design and Construction.
Education:
- Master of Industrial Design, Auburn University
- B.S. in Environmental Design, Auburn University
- B.S. in Fine Arts, Vanderbilt University
His research integrates industrial design with sustainable construction methodologies, particularly through mass timber product development. The Studio+Build initiative demonstrates his commitment to cross-disciplinary collaboration between SIGD and the McWhorter School of Building Science, creating marketable timber installation systems while providing experiential learning.
Professor Lay spearheads international engagement through expanded study-abroad programs in Japan, where students explore cultural contexts of design. He founded the Kaleidoscope: Auburn Design Show – an annual exhibition attracting 850+ industry partners, alumni, and students that highlights student creativity and serves as a professional networking platform.
As Program Chair, he oversees curriculum development and studio instruction emphasizing hands-on prototyping. His leadership includes managing collaborative projects with industry partners and guiding student teams through international design challenges in environments ranging from Tokyo's digital installations to sustainable construction sites.
