News

Technology, Design & Technical Education

Welding Competitor Selected for WorldSkills 2024

SkillsUSA has selected Wyatt Hansen of Altonah, Utah as the official competitor for Welding in the 2024 WorldSkills Competition. His technical expert is Ray Connolly of Cedar Hill, Mo. Hansen will represent the United States at the 2024 WorldSkills Compet...

USU Blanding Opens New Technical Education Building

Welding faculty at Utah State University Blanding campus donned protective gear and shunned the customary large pair of scissors in favor of welding torches on Friday, Oct. 6, cutting through a metal ribbon to herald the opening of the Statewide campus’ n...

USU Eastern Wins Big at Technical Skills Competition

Utah State University Eastern's welding technology program and the diesel and heavy equipment mechanics program triumphed at the SkillsUSA Utah Skills and Leadership Conference held at Salt Lake Community College, bringing home multiple gold, silver, and ...

USU Moab Hosts Women in Welding Workshops

Utah State University Moab Technical Education Programs is hosting Women in Welding workshops in order to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for women interested in learning how to weld.

Outdoor Retailer Winter 2023

OPDD made a strong showing at the 2023 Winter OR Show. The annual event brought together industry professionals, exhibitors, and outdoor enthusiasts to showcase the latest products and trends in outdoor gear and equipment.

Paige Koch Accepts Position at Primo Golf

Paige Koch, a recent graduate of Utah State University's Outdoor Product Design & Development program, has accepted a position as a Product Line Manager & Designer at Primo Golf. Koch, a member of the class of 2022, previously interned at Under Armour and...

Alexis Parkinson - Tech Systems Success Story

We are excited to share the success story of Alexis Parkinson with you all! Alexis graduated with a Technology Systems degree emphasizing Quality & Reliability. We can't wait to see all the great things she continues to do at Space Dynamics Laboratory!

Dr. Rachel Gross

Dr. Rachel Gross, Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado-Denver spoke at the Outdoor History Summit about their time in the Outdoor Recreation Archive and research on the history of big box and specialty retail in the outdoor industry. Dr. Gros...

Ashton Duke Spotlight

Technology Systems Student Spotlight! I chose Technology Systems Product Development Emphasis because I liked the classes that were required. I felt like this major gave me more valuable knowledge than other majors so I could diversify myself in the job f...

Alan Bown Internship

Congratulations to Alan J Bown on his Civil Solutions Group, Inc. internship. We wish you all the best as you continue your career.

Dr. Sahra Kaboli-Nejad

Dr. Sahra Kaboli-Nejad, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion at On Running talks with students about their individual power and responsibility to create more inclusive products, experiences, and teams as future leaders in the outdoor industry.

Students Participate in Nalgene Design Sprint

Representatives from Nalgene partnered with students from Outdoor Product Design & Development in a "Project Runway" style design challenge where students were tasked with tackling real design briefs from the brand.

Have You Heard of Custom Fit and STIT?

For over 30 years, Custom Fit has helped Utah-owned businesses and individuals afford essential trainings. These trainings span from continuing education credits to OSHA, MSHA, and other industry-specific certifications.

Repair and ReCommerce

Rugged Thread is a part of a growing movement of repair in the outdoor industry. Josie Kinney, Director of Business Development, talks about the future of repair, the financial and sustainability benefits to offering these services, as well as the growing...

MyMedic Design Sprint

MyMedic, a Utah-based medical company sponsored a Design Sprint with OPDD students to explore the future of first aid and recovery.

Outdoor History Summit Roundup

The Outdoor Recreation Archive (USU Special Collections & Archives) and Range partnered to host the first ever Outdoor History Summit on September 15, 2021.

History of Gear Series: Sarah Pickman, PhD Candidate

On this episode of the History of Gear Series, Sarah Pickman, a Ph.D. candidate at Yale and author of “Dress, Image, and Cultural Encounter in the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration” talks about colonialism in the outdoors and the history of polar gear and a...

History of Gear Series: Wilderness Experience

Greg and Jim Thomsen join the History of Gear Series to talk about their company, Wilderness Experience. We talk about their experience breaking into the industry, taking a company public and their experience in senior leadership at companies like VF Corp...

Carolyn Allen / Industrial Designer at Werx Design

Carolyn Allen, an industrial designer at Werx Design, shared insights into portfolio do's and don'ts with students in the OPDD program. Allen shares some of their favorite portfolios as well as tips for how to stand out as a designer when seeking a job.

History of Gear Series: Sally McCoy

Sally McCoy, industry legend and former senior leader at companies like The North Face, Sierra Designs, and Camelbak, joins the History of Gear Series to talk about her introduction to the outdoor industry, her non-profit work, and the evolution of the ou...

The Best Loungewear for Cozying Up at Home

Amber Williams, a textile science lecturer at Utah State University, says fit, elasticity, color, and aesthetics are important, as these factors can really make an impact on how you feel wearing clothes, but you also want to make sure you're wearing fabri...

History of Gear Series: Tracey Cottingham

Tracey Cottingham, a Clothing Architect, joins the History of Gear Series to talk about technical apparel design and construction, her time with Nike and Columbia, and the importance of preserving the history of gear and apparel.

History of Gear Series: The North Face Archives

In the latest History of Gear Series, David Whetstone and Michaela Hardy from The North Face give a glimpse into the company archives. They share the value of preserving product, the importance of brand history and its impact on legacy, and how the collec...

USUE Welding Program

As their website states, Utah State University Eastern is Utah’s “best kept secret”. With low tuition rates, one-on-one instruction, and exciting student athletic events, USUE is a great place to start your secondary education.

The State of Outdoor Journalism with Amelia Arvesen

Amelia Arvesen, a freelance journalist and creative, shares her experience working in outdoor journalism, the importance of quality reporting, the joys and challenges of working freelance, and Honing Her Craft, her latest venture telling stories about cre...

Field Testing With Mountain Equipment Research Group

Chris El-Deiry, Owner of Mountain Equipment Research Group, shares his journey to a career in the outdoor industry, leading field testing at Black Diamond, and his new venture providing field testing services for brands across the industry.

History of Gear Series: Gore Archives

Kevin Brown, Heritage and Archives Manager from W.L. Gore & Associates, joins the History of Gear Series to talk about the importance of corporate collections, the origins of the Gore archive, and how collections are used by various departments at the com...

History of Gear Series: National Parks Maps Archive

Brian Kelley, a NYC-based photographer joins the History of Gear Series to talk about his efforts to archive and share National Parks Service pamphlets. We talk about the importance of archival efforts, outdoor graphic design, and how he inspired the Outd...

History of Gear Series: SAND Pack Company

Chris Leiter joined the History of Gear Series to talk about SAND Pack Company, his creative endeavor to challenge what handmade product can be and help the history of gear live on through new product.

Scout Inspired Gear by Cantonment

Kyle Snarr, product enthusiast, marketer, and founder of Cantonment, shares his experience working for companies like Struck, Vox Media, Gear Patrol and Wachonista where he learned to tell stories about product to now building his own brand.

Alumni Spotlight: Natalie Cullum at Orvis

Natalie Cullum, an OPDD alum (Class of 2019) and Product Design at Orvis shared her experience transitioning from college life to working in industry, what her day to day looks like, and things she wished she would have known.