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Nancy Richardson Design Center

Nancy Richardson Design Center Make ideas into reality "RDC curriculum takes you out of the classroom."

— Allie Berger, CSU Admissions Counselor

RDC Fabrication and Digital Labs

Experience our labs via a toolbox course – as part of a Design Thinking Certificate or Minor – or through our semester Access Membership. Whether you want to learn techniques in wood or metal, prototyping in resin or laser cutting, or get into the digital world of design, augmented reality, or virtual reality, the RDC has an evolving list of toolbox courses. Have a project in mind, or just want to explore fabrication technologies? Then an access pass may be right for you. Learn about the equipment available in each lab and associated training sessions via the links on our Training page.

Starting Fall 2021 all CSU students, faculty, and staff can purchase a semester all-access membership to the fabrication labs, equipment, trainings, technician assistance and select testing materials. More details of the RDC Lab Access Membership’s fee breakdown, including what the RDC provides, can be found here. To get started, buy your membership online at https://rdc-colostate.nbsstore.net/lab-memberships via credit card or in the Prototype Lab via RamCash anytime during the semester. How do you load RamCash? Add RamCash online via credit card or make cash deposits at RamCash Deposit Stations. Once you purchase your pass, you will be added to our Canvas course for our online orientation with access to all online training materials.

Are you part of a CSU department or local business in need of design services? We offer full-service design and small production runs on special projects. Contact us for a custom quote for vinyl, textile, or UV printing; laser engraving; 3D scanning or printed objects; and anything else that can be made with our equipment!

Prototype Lab

Here, UV and fabric printers reside alongside industrial quilters and sewing machines, and laser cutters hum as 3D and resin printers build up models. Enter an atmosphere of possibilities in our Prototype Lab.

Students using the Prototype Lab

Wood Lab

Artisan woodworking meets high-tech creations in our Wood Lab. Whether your creation needs a traditional lathe or utilizes a digital file with our large CNC router, we’re here to help you make it.

A design student using the miter saw in the Wood Lab

Metal Lab

Grinding, welding, and cutting metal might not seem feasible for all, but that’s why we created a Metal Lab. We want to offer opportunity to everyone to learn – and wielding a torch can be quite the empowering experience!

A student using the welder with a welding mask on in the Metal Lab

Ideation Lab

While the advancements in Augmented and Virtual Reality make it hard to keep technology up-to-date, we’re committed to offering equipment and software so students can gain highly sought after digital skills.

Imaging Lab

The sky’s the limit for printing in the Imaging Lab. Our screen printing press and exposure unit form the foundation of the possibilities available with our other prototyping tools.

Attend a Training

We offer both in-person and online training dependent to the equipment. A mandatory training is the only thing standing between you and all the amazing tools available at the RDC.

  • 550+ hours of Wood Lab use since opening
  • 3000+ hours of Prototype Lab use by over 440 lab users in our first 5 semesters
  • 1916 hours of 3D printing in our first 5 semesters