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Chandler Burns chose to attend �鶹ҹ�� because it was one of the few schools in the Southern U.S., and the only school in Louisiana, with an. The University’s affordability was a major factor, too.

“I chose to study industrial design due to my immense passion for the arts — as well as my passion and strong opinions regarding the design of many products, particularly in the automotive and technological fields,” Chandler explained. 

He hopes to focus on bringing form and function together in the design process. 

“I feel that form has been sorely missing in many of the products of recent years,” he lamented, “and I hope to bring that back into consideration.”

Professors who made an impact 

When Chandler started his college career, he had no idea just how much he would learn, both in industrial design and in his life. 

Taking Honors Basic Design II (DSGN 104) with Sarah Young, he realized how much there was for him to learn in industrial design and how important having a strong support system would be.  

“I know that I have many professors, including Mrs. Young, to come to for future advice,” Chandler said. He also mentioned Dr. Allison Leigh, “as a primary example of how all professors should be: passionate in the class’s field of study and willing to learn and communicate with the student body.”  

Learning there’s more to learn

Chandler has also found that you have to make sacrifices to make the most of your time. 
“Even the hardest decisions to make can become the best ones,” he said. 

 “I have found just how crucial time management and prioritizing truly are,” he said. “I quickly learned that planning ahead is important to staying on top of things.”

Outside the classroom 

Chandler was previously on �鶹ҹ��’s and teams, but he’s since shifted his extracurricular focus. 

“I am currently part of the , or Industrial Designers Society of America, and I have recently joined �鶹ҹ��’s Formula SAE racing team, ,” he said. “I hope to further involve myself with other organizations in the future, because the possibilities are endless on this campus.”

One of the reasons Chandler can participate in these organizations is the flexible time schedule in the industrial design program. The workload is intense and requires a great deal of effort, but it also allows ample time to work. 

“Although it took some time to adjust to, having the time to work on the various assignments and projects has been a godsend,” Chandler said. “When given the time to put true passion into my work, I have found that the final products created truly represent who I am as a designer.” 

Campus life

One of Chandler’s favorite aspects of on-campus life is the easy access to everything. 

“I live in on-campus housing, and that certainly makes the overall experience better as almost everything is within a five- to 10-minute walk from my dorm,” he explained. “It has allowed me to diversify and discover where the best places are for daily tasks, from studying to hanging out with friends.”

Chandler was one of the only members of his graduating high school class to attend �鶹ҹ��. 

“At first, it was admittedly difficult and I had a few rough moments in the beginning weeks and months,” he recalled. “However, I have since grown tremendously as a person and managed to become friends with many people, taking to heart many life lessons and discovering myself in a whole new way. I now know that this is truly the right place for me, and I am proud to call myself a Ragin’ Cajun!”