RIDI students and professors looking at work on a LED screen in VITAL.

 

The Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation is the epicenter of interdisciplinary design education at Western Michigan University. Home to the interior architecture and design and product design programs which will prepare you to be part of the next generation of design innovators. Richmond Institute for Design and Innovation is firmly committed to providing a cutting-edge design workforce to ensure a vital and healthy design profession locally, nationally and globally.

Grace sewing clothes in the design studio.

I think WMU definitely has prepared me and given me the structure and discipline to be able to face such a demanding industry

Grace Stibich

  • Students at an aviation design charrette, watching a presentation on a tv showing the interior of a gutted airplane.

    Internships

    Field experience and internships are a central part of our curriculum. You will be matched with identified companies to make sure the internship is a good fit and the work is appropriate to the curriculum. Our community partnerships extend around the country to provide varied product design internship experiences. You will have the opportunity to branch out or focus your studies based on where you want your career to take you.

  • Bobby talking to someone who is holding Wahl clippers.

    Wahl

    This summer I worked as an intern at Wahl on the design team. I applied with a handful of students from some other top universities and they liked my work enough that I was the only one called in for an interview.

    Bobby Snell

  • Hooker DeJong, Inc.

    I have been a interior design intern with HDJ architects engineers and planners in downtown Muskegon for just over a month. It has been an amazing experience so far. I have had the chance to work directly with the Lead Designer on many projects. I have worked mostly on affordable housing projects, as well as senior living facilities. The projects are nationwide. From Virginia to Chicago to right here in Michigan - one even in Kalamazoo.

    Carlee Castle

  • Madison working at a computer at her Hasbro internship.

    Hasbro

    I work on creating new and fun board game ideas that could possibly be actually concepts one day. I also help with board games they are creating but just need extra help on. We sometimes come up with brand new board game ideas or different ways to play the classic games. It's pretty great!

    Madison Dempster

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Meet our students