About the RDC
A General Introduction to the RDC
The Nancy Richardson Design Center (RDC) is an interdisciplinary collaboration space focused on Design Thinking and houses five fabrication labs at Colorado State University's main campus in Fort Collins, Colorado. Our goal is to bring together everyone –from any major, discipline and age – through design thinking and modern technologies to solve problems facing the world today.
Our facility opened in January 2019 as an inspirational creative space to stimulate collaboration, encourage professional development, and interdisciplinary learning. The building is named after Nancy Richardson, a 1982 interior design graduate of CSU and co-founder with her husband Curt of Blue Ocean Enterprises, Otterbox, and the OtterCares Foundation. The Richardsons donated over $8 million dollars to make this 45,000 square-foot-building possible.
The RDC building is home to modern classrooms and offices for both the Design and Merchandising department (DM) and the RDC Department that teaches classes in Design Thinking. One of the best ways to experience RDC is via enrollment in a Design Thinking toolbox course or as part of a minor, undergraduate certificate, or graduate certificate in design thinking. Design thinking is a nonlinear, iterative process that seeks to understand users, challenge assumptions, (re)define problems and create innovative solutions to prototype and test. We have an ever-rotating course list that teaches students about the design process, prototyping, wood working, metal fabrication, 3d printing, laser cutting, fabric printing, sewing, embroidery, digital design, and development for augmented and virtual reality. Our courses are also available to Lifelong Learners through CSU’s resident instruction program. Beyond design thinking, we also work with other departments across campus that utilize our Fabrication Labs as applied to their curriculum.
The RDC also offers semester-long RDC Lab Access Membership to our RDC Fabrication Labs for any CSU student, faculty, or staff member, which allows individuals to use equipment in our labs without specific course enrollment. Lab access membership includes an allotment of starter materials and access to online training resources on specific equipment in our Prototype Lab, Wood Lab, Metal Lab, screenprinting Imaging Lab, and AR/VR Ideation Lab. Members of our staff are available during open lab hours to provide additional in-person guidance, support, and supervision in the labs. RDC lab activities are not limited to coursework. Paying members can prototype any idea that comes to mind. We also have a Lab Authorized Volunteer Program to engage with community members that have no prior university affiliation.
If you have an idea but need help developing it or bringing it into reality, the RDC also offers full Design and Fabrication Services that can be both internal and external to Colorado State University. Please contact us to discuss your project. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with you.
- Please use our RFQ form or email us at rdcbuildlabs@colostate.edu for questions related to our labs or service projects.
- Inquiries related to academic operations can be sent to design@colostate.edu.
- Questions about our RDC online store can be made via the RDC Storefront Contact Us web page.
With the vision of bringing together students, faculty, industry, and community, the Nancy Richardson Design Center was created for everyone.
More Information:
RDC Department Website Links:
- RDC Department Home Page (https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/rdc/)
- RDC Fabrication Labs Web Page (https://www.chhs.colostate.edu/rdc/make/)
RDC Mailing Address:
Nancy Richardson Design Center
1595 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1595.
RDC Physical Address:
Nancy Richardson Design Center (RDC), Colorado State University (CSU)
522 W. Lake Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1595.
Our RDC Fabrication Labs are in the northwest wing of the first floor if the building:
- Check-in/out Desk & Prototype Lab: RDC room 123,
- Wood Lab - RDC room 130,
- Metal Lab - RDC room 129,
- Imaging Lab - RDC room 124,
- Ideation Lab - RDC room 120.
Our RDC offices are in RDC rooms 304 (Main Office for RDC Department and Academic Operations), room 122 (RDC Lab Coordinator Office), and RDC room 123 (RDC Lab Assistant Coordinator and Lab Staff Offices).