UW-Stout: Industrial design students sweep national competition

Jerry Poling
Assistant Director, University Communications
715-232-2384
polingj@uwstout.edu

Menomonie, Wis. — Students majoring in industrial design at University of Wisconsin-Stout recently dominated three national competitions, taking three first places and the top three places in two of them.

The students’ entries were made during the Design for Manufacture class last spring with Professor Benjamin Pratt in the School of Art and Design.

In an Industrial Designers Society of America contest, the Materials and Processes Special Interest Section Student Thermoformed Parts competition sponsored by Freetech Plastics, Jeff Pease, of Rochester, Minn., took first prize of $2,500 with his Blume Wall Clock.
Second went to Brynn Wildenauer, of Minneapolis, $1,500, with Muse Acoustic Wall Tiles and third to Caleb Toft, of Pine Island, Minn., with Impact Adjustable Suitcase Protector, $1,000.

Pease’s clock combines aspects of a sun dial and an analog clock but also uses digital technology.

“In my exploration of applications of thermoforming, I began to look at everyday products that have had little development in the last number of years. Among my findings was the analog wall clock. I was then intrigued to create a visually striking design while keeping the manufacturing cost inexpensive. The Blume shadow clock is the result,” Pease said in an IDSA news release.

Wildenauer created her wall tiles to improve interior music acoustics.

“Looking at current acoustic products in the marketplace, there was a void. The opportunities were sound enhancement, sculptural integration and technology utilization,” Wildenauer said. “You can control the mood of your space with a simple app on your smart phone.”

In the Association of Rotational Molders contest, Abbey Scray, of DePere, took first place and $2,000. She designed a line of modern outdoor furniture, Topel.

Jonathan Fox, of Wausau, took second place and $1,000. Nate Eberle, of Hartland, took third place and $500.

Entries were judged on aesthetics, originality, moldability and marketability.

In the InterZinc Design Challenge, Cole Sippel, of St. Cloud, Minn., was one of three national winners who received $2,000, along with $1,000 donated to UW-Stout. Students were asked to design hardware made of zinc or a zinc alloy. He designed a zinc die cast commercial faucet.
In a fourth contest, four UW-Stout students received honorable mentions in the International Rotational Molding Product Design competition, sponsored by Winsell. The students, who designed outdoor products, are Nate Eberle, of Hartland; Julia Hurley, of Evansville; Jessica Kreitz, of Pequot Lakes, Minn.; and Liz Martin, of Appleton.
Each student received $150.