Industrial Design

Deana McDonagh, Professor of Industrial Design and Director of the (dis)Ability Design Studio  at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, led a seminar about empathic modeling and pedagogy of discomfort at the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning in December 2024.

The inaugural Krannert Award Dinner and Ceremony on November 15th at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts showcased a stunning award trophy designed by Krystal Zeng, a talented former senior in Industrial Design. This remarkable piece represents the culmination of creativity, dedication, and collaboration within the university community. The project originated from a competition launched and managed by Professor Suresh Sethi. Krystal Zeng's submission stood out for its elegance, thoughtfulness, and ability to embody the spirit of the Krannert Award. As her mentor, Professor Sethi guided her throughout the design process, witnessing her concept evolve from a classroom idea into the remarkable trophy that graced every table at the ceremony. The realization of Krystal Zeng's design was a profoundly rewarding moment for all involved. The trophy symbolizes more than just recognition; it serves as a testament to the power of design, the importance of mentorship, and the incredible talent within the student body. Krystal Zeng's outstanding achievement is a source of inspiration for students to pursue their creative visions with confidence and determination. A video showcasing the award may be viewed here.

Dr. Lynne Dearborn, a prominent member of the School of Architecture and Associate Director of Design in the School of Art and Design, was featured as an expert in USA Today’s 2024 Homefront Report, titled "What Cities Are Best for the Middle Class?" In the article, Dr. Dearborn highlighted the unique challenges faced by middle-class families in urban areas, noting that while cities often promise access to diverse schools, transportation, daycare, and medical services, these benefits can be overshadowed by societal preferences for single-family homes. She explained, “One major challenge facing middle-class families is that often the physical configuration of available housing options with the right related benefits do not fit that image of the single-family home or, if they do, they are not in the right price range.” Her insights reflect the School of Architecture’s dedication to exploring solutions for equitable and sustainable living environments.

Industrial Design students Shuoning (Stone) Shi and Yuheng (Leo) Wang (with Hui Liu, Guwei Chen, and Wanting Bi) received Gold Winner awards for COFE Mixed Reality Helmet and Magnetic Rowing Machine at the 2024 Muse Design Awards. Stone and Leo were also named Gold Winners for Naginata: The Intelligent Home Grooming Solution. Stone received a Silver Winner for Aquilainsight. Congratulations Stone and Leo!  

Kim Vandenbroucke (BFA 2002 Industrial Design) was nominated for the third year in a row for the Toy and Game Innovator of the Year TAGIE Award! This year’s nomination is for Scrabble Together, a project with the games team at Mattel. The goal was to make Scrabble more family-friendly and accessible. “I hope this cooperative version encourages more people who may have been hesitant to dive into the classic word game to enjoy it with their family and friends. A huge high five to both the Mattel Games and IR teams for their incredible work, and to all the other inventors and designers up for this award—I'm lucky to know so many talented people!” Don't forget to vote: https://lnkd.in/g9zwUqfx    

Kuangming Qin (MFA 2024 Industrial Design) received a 2024 merit award from the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). CONGRATULATIONS!

Giant Congratulations Ali Ibanez, Graphic Design (2024) for competing in the Paris Paralympics on the women’s basketball team. Go Ali! Also congratulations as well to Phillip Croft, Industrial Design (2025) and Isaiah Rigo, Industrial Design (2024) for making it to the paralympic trials for Track and Field.

This summer, Mania Taher received the 2024 Sally Kress Tompkins Fellowship, awarded jointly by the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) and the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS-U.S. National Park  Service). This fellowship award enabled her to complete a survey and report documenting  the physical and social histories of the Dearborn Mosque building and community in Dearborn (est. 1938), Wayne County, MI. This building, only the second mosque built in the United States, serves as a case study of early American mosque architecture. The Dearborn Mosque engages significantly with resettlement histories of the 20th-Century Arab immigrants of Dearborn and Detroit who were predominantly industrial workers at the Ford automotive company.

Dr. Cliff Shin was quoted in the February 19, 2024 article, "Apple's freshest design might just be this puffy space-age carrying case" by Aaron Mok of Business Insider.

Industrial Design Professor Suresh Sethi was recently interviewed by Kevin Mako, President of MAKO Design + Invent in his Podcast "Use Inventor Narrative to Design Great Hardware Products." Listen to the Podcast here.  

Deana McDonagh was recently featured in FOX 32 Chicago, "University of Illinois developing 'Star Wars'-inspired self-driving wheelchair." Video and article by Natalie Bomke here.

"Review of assistive devices for the prevention of pressure ulcers: an engineering perspective" was recently published in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology  by Mahshid Mansouri, Girish Krishnan, Deana C. McDonagh, Christopher M. Zallek & Elizabeth T. Hsiao-Wecksler. Article link here.

Deana McDonagh was recently interviewed on WAND discussing "New robotic hands-free wheelchair to help with mobility in users." The segment may be viewed here.