Campus Highlight: Barnard Design Center
Back in high school, constructing sets for the theater department was a major part of my extracurricular experience. Woodworking eventually shaped my artistic interests and upon my arrival at Barnard, I was eager to learn more about student access to woodworking/construction resources. Initially, I assumed that these materials would be found in a hidden room somewhere on campus, restricted only to those students who had relevant academic projects. Within my first week, however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Barnard Design Center was easily accessible, right on the first floor of the Milstein Library.
After completing a brief safety training, the Design Center is entirely available for student use. Personally, I immediately jumped at the chance to use a jigsaw again, but the Center’s equipment caters to almost every type of project. The walls are lined with items such as sewing machines, a laser cutter, silk-screening materials, and even a set of 3D printers! There is truly something for everyone, no matter your medium of design.
The staff who work at the Design Center help make the tools all the more accessible to those just starting out. I came from a background of woodworking, so I was entirely comfortable with saws and drills, but one day, I really needed to use the sewing machine to hem a pair of pants. I had never actually used a sewing machine before, but I turned to the nearest staff member and was treated to a one-on-one tutorial, complete with a list of sewing best practices. Although it can be intimidating at times, none of the equipment is out of reach for a student truly willing to learn and explore.
The Design Center is proud of the projects that Barnard students have created with the help of its resources, displaying countless photos of final products all around the Center, as well as on their website (go check it out!). To me, the sense of community and openness that one can find in the Barnard Design Center is a true reflection of Barnard’s innovative and expressive spirit.
- Rebecca Soforenko