design journey
By Aditi Khandelwal
Pail is a lunchbox designed to fit into the water bottle sleeve of a backpack. The concept stemmed from the common issue of students struggling to carry full meals during long class days. Observing students often relying on small snack bags or ziplock pouches—leading to crushed chips and squished sandwiches—the team set out to create a solution that addressed both convenience and functionality.
The team handcrafted each Pail prototype in the workshop at the Art and Design Building. They used thermoforming- a manufacturing process that uses heat to shape plastic sheets into desired forms. The team described this process as a ‘big learning curve’ as they navigated higher-level manufacturing techniques.
Reflecting on their design journey, the team emphasized the importance of constant iteration. “A lot of iterations went into this project,” said Carlsson. “We had a lot of different prototypes which were constantly changing to get the right one.” Mies added, “I don’t think any design is perfect, there are always going to be parts of it you have to fix. It’s about making your design better and better.”
Throughout the design and manufacturing process, the team received invaluable support from Art and Design faculty and staff. Professor Cliff Shin provided ongoing guidance during the early design phases, while Michael Collins, the 3D Fabrication Lab coordinator, assisted with production logistics. Tyler Porterfield, an educational technology specialist, also played a key role in refining the manufacturing process and even inspired the name Pail.
Finally, the success of the project was largely due to the complementary skills of each team member. “While Kyle had a lot of knowledge about manufacturing, Amber did a lot of the research,” explained Carlsson. “We filled different boxes that were needed for this project.” Their collaborative efforts ultimately led to the creation of Pail and recognition through the competition.
The purpose of the IHS Global Innovation Awards Excellence in Student Design is to invigorate the housewares industry with the fresh ideas of top student designers and to encourage young talent to consider careers in the housewares business. The team was recognized for their outstanding design, thorough research, technical proficiency, and polished presentation. Reflecting on their win, the team shared, “None of us expected to win so it was quite the surprise, but it’s very gratifying to be rewarded after all the work we put in.”
The School of Art & Design and the College of Fine and Applied Arts congratulate Peter Carlsson, Kyle Hampton, and Amber Mies for their dedication, innovation, and remarkable achievement with Pail.
About the author: Aditi Khandelwal is a sophomore in graphic design and information sciences.
