emerging fall 2017 Vol. 12, No. 1
emerging fall 2017 vol. 12, no. 1
from the dean
editors
Dear Alumni and Friends
of the College of Design,
It is with great pleasure that I join the College of Design this fall as its new dean. I would like to thank Becky Yust for all of the excellent work she has done as interim dean. Thanks also to Tom Fisher for his dedication as dean during our college’s formation and in the years that followed. I am confident that from the solid foundation these leaders have established, the college will continue to emerge as a preeminent hub of creativity and learning. Through meetings with the search committee and many of you this past winter, I have come to understand that the College of Design is building on our rich history of excellent programs while moving in new and exciting directions. The work of our students, faculty, and alumni is steadily improving the quality of our natural, designed, and social environments both locally and globally.
Photo by Heather Evans Smith.
Architecture graduate Gauri Kelkar’s work to build a birth waiting house in Sierra Leone is a compelling example of our global impact (page 6). Kaamil Haider’s (B.F.A. ’17, Graphic Design) senior project on reimagining Somalia’s design aesthetics highlights the important role design can play in defining a nation’s identity (pages 8–9). Closer to home, recent interior design graduate Julie Irish is researching how to design schools that help children with autism spectrum disorder develop their own wayfinding abilities (page 5). I have also come to appreciate the lasting bonds that are forged at the College of Design. The jubilant reunion of the School of Architecture’s class of ’67 is just one example of the strong ties that are fostered in our community (page 11). A crucial part of this sense of connection is the support our alumni and design community give our students and faculty. This year Betsy Vohs (M.Arch ’04) will receive the University’s Alumni Service Award in recognition of her volunteer service to our college (page 11). We are grateful to Betsy and many others who continue to reflect the ethos of the college through their service and creative work. The efforts of everyone at our college have generated a unique and enticing place—a place where a variety of disciplines, students, faculty, and staff can thrive, while doing our part to reflect the University’s aims and values in the world through design. I look forward to seeing what more we can create in the year, and years, ahead.
Amelia Narigon and Trevor Miller
designer
Calee Cecconi
copy editor
Sharon Grimes
college leadership
Carol Strohecker, dean; Marilyn DeLong, associate dean for academic affairs and associate dean for research and engagement; Kate Maple, assistant dean for student services; Trevor Miller, assistant dean for advancement and information technology
academic unit heads
Missy Bye, Department of Design, Housing, and Apparel; Joe Favour, Department of Landscape Architecture; Marc Swackhamer, School of Architecture
college of design advisory board
Stuart Ackerberg, Michael Alexin, Dan Avchen, Maurice Blanks, Roberta Bonoff, Mark Butler, Jay Cowles, Pat Cummens, Jo Davison, Kelly Gage, Mary McNellis, Tom Meyer, Sandy Morris, Dave Norback, Paul Reyelts, Mark Swenson, Gary Tushie, and Burt Visnick
our mission
Through a unique commitment to creativity and advancing technologies, the College of Design at the University of Minnesota leads, innovates, and educates in the full range of design fields by researching ongoing and emerging issues, exploring new knowledge, and addressing and solving real-world problems, all while adhering to socially responsible, sustainable, and collaborative design thinking. Emerging is published fall and spring semesters by the University of Minnesota College of Design for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the college. This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Please call 612-624-9751. Send address changes to design@umn.edu. Emerging is available online at design.umn.edu/emerging. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
Sincerely,
Carol Strohecker, Ph.D.
Professor and Dean College of Design
2 EMERGING FALL 2017
On the cover: (Top) Project by recent B.D.A. graduate, Michael Canniff. (Bottom) work by Mikaela Armstrong and Kellen Renstrom from the DesignBats exhibition at the Larson Gallery.
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design thinking in action
Rebranding
the bat
/|\^•,•^/|\ North American bats are in serious trouble. Since 2007 more than five million of them have been killed by a disease called white-nose syndrome. Caused by the white fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, white-nose syndrome infects the skin of a bat’s muzzle, tail, ears, and wings while they are hibernating. Infected bats wake up prematurely and burn through their fat stores too quickly to survive the rest of the winter.¹ The resulting decrease in bat population can cause problems in agriculture and other human endeavors. Whether eating mosquitoes or acting as pollinators, bats are a crucial part of our ecosystem. That’s why the College of Design’s designer-in-residence, Kelly Munson, asked faculty members and design students to help her raise awareness about the difficulties bats face, by rebranding the bat. “To me, design has always had one foot in the scientific world and one foot in the emotional world. Today it seems that designers are the perfect people to take intimidating data and translate it into something that people can understand and really start caring about.” Read the interview: z.umn.edu/emgf17a ¹ “White-nose Syndrome and Minnesota’s Bats,” Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Photo by Mikaela Armstrong and Kellen Renstrom. Bathouse by Mihee Kim and Tessa Portuese..
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design thinking in action a new kind of apparel project Apparel design freshmen in ADES 2221 were assigned an unusual project spring semester: design an outfit for a College of Design faculty member. “This class is an apparel design student’s very first exposure to apparel design research and the design process,” explained teaching specialist Lindsey Strange. “I wanted to challenge them to design for someone different from themselves, for someone they are unfamiliar with," she continued. Reaching out to her colleagues, Strange recruited six faculty members to help with her project. “I had the students design for my colleagues because I could offer more feedback about the individual faculty members. It also gave students
the opportunity to work with someone who was familiar with design thinking and conducting research.”
as inspiration, students were challenged to create their mood boards by drawing from less conventional sources.
Students divided into six different groups, one for each of the faculty volunteers. The faculty members then visited the class so that the students could interview them. Once the interviews were completed, students conducted research based on the interviews with their faculty member. “They researched their faculty member’s background, the topics and ideas mentioned during the interview session, really anything to help them select inspiration for their designs,” said Strange. Barred from using other pieces of clothing
“Students pulled from faculty members’ favorite books and authors to favorite colors and patterns in order to create around 20 design options,” said Strange. “One interesting turn was that each group of students seemed to focus in on a particular aspect of a faculty member, like a favorite color, but each one incorporated that information differently,” she said. Read the full story at z.umn.edu/emgf17j
finding a way with interior design What is wayfinding and how do people use this skill?
julie irish When Julie Irish (Ph.D. ’17, Interior Design) was asked to design a school for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), she made the surprising discovery that there was little design research on the topic. This was all the motivation she needed to conduct her own research into how to design schools that are not only friendly for children with ASD, but also help children with ASD develop a crucial life skill—wayfinding. design.umn.edu
“Wayfinding is the ability to find our way around. We all do it, consciously or unconsciously, especially when we need to find our way in a new or an unfamiliar environment. We use cues from the environment to help us find our way, maybe a sign, a graphic symbol or pictogram, or a landmark, something that stands out as memorable to us.” What did you do to make wayfinding easier in your research? “In my research, I used several different wayfinding aids that had one thing in common. They all featured color. Many of the schools I visited were devoid of color or had the same color walls, floors, doors, etc., throughout. In a large school this makes it especially difficult to find your way around as everything looks the same.
Adults with ASD have reported particular difficulty finding their way around when they were at school. The wayfinding aids I used were colored doors, colored shapes on the floor, and colored signs. The signs were a combination of text and pictograms, that is, pictures to support the text.”
Also, most children said they enjoyed their wayfinding experience, which is important because if children enjoy an experience they are more likely to want to repeat it.”
How can providing wayfinding aids in schools improve a child’s experience?
“What my research findings showed is that all the participants in the study, nine children with ASD aged 8 to 11, were able to find their way to a destination by themselves using the wayfinding aids. They were able to do this after I had shown them the way the first time and given them detailed wayfinding instruction. This is promising as the results indicate that parents and educators may be able to use wayfinding aids to teach wayfinding skills to children with ASD. This might help children with ASD feel less stress in an environment and may help them become more independent at wayfinding.”
“I applied wayfinding aids along the corridors of an elementary school. The children with ASD who used the wayfinding aids were able to remember colors and shapes and
“Clear wayfinding helps everybody, not just children with ASD.” —Julie Irish
signs along the route much easier than children with ASD who did not use the wayfinding aids. Clear wayfinding helps everybody, not just children with ASD.
How can parents and schools use your research to improve their children, and students’ lives?
COLLEGE OF DESIGN FALL 2017 5
designing globally
designing
Across an Ocean With the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, Sierra Leone is one of the most dangerous countries for women to give birth.¹ Gauri Kelkar’s (M.Arch ’17) final project is helping to change that. Partnering with Rural Health Care Initiative (RHCI), a Minneapolis-based nonprofit founded by Sierra Leone immigrant Alice Karpeh, Kelkar designed a birth waiting house (BWH) in the village of Tikonko. Once completed, the BWH will provide a location for women to receive pre- and postnatal care, education, and assistance if complications arise.
Since traveling to Sierra Leone was not possible for Kelkar, she interviewed RHCI members and volunteers, examined case studies, and relied on archival research to gather the initial data she needed to start creating her plan for the house. “The design of the building itself was a collaborative process with periodic input from RHCI members and the local Sierra Leonian community in Minneapolis. These conversations served as a reality check for my design process. Their questions helped the project stay rooted in its surroundings and kept me sensitive to their needs,” explained Kelkar. Because there was no running water, electricity, or sewer connection, Kelkar knew her plan had to rely on resources that were naturally and freely available. “We had to be able to leverage resources like sunlight, wind, and rainwater effectively. The building plan had to give a sense of openness and yet provide privacy to pregnant women who were living at the center,” said Kelkar. 6 EMERGING SPRING 2017
The resource constraints weren’t the only obstacles Kelkar encountered. Designing a building without being able to visit the site was a challenge, as was designing for a community and culture that Kelkar was unfamiliar with. “Channeling their needs was tough. I had to rely on what I gleaned from other people’s experiences of Sierra Leonian culture and traditions.”
“Everyone in the village, especially the midwives and women of the village, is excited about the building and what it brings to the community.” —Gauri Kelkar In the end, Kelkar’s plan has been greeted with lots of enthusiasm from both RHCI and from the people of Tikonko. “Everyone in the village, especially the midwives and women of the village, is excited about the building and what it brings to the community,” concluded Kelkar. Construction on the birth waiting house was completed this summer. RHCI is now in the process of raising money to furnish the house and hire staff. You can help RHCI complete the birth waiting house by giving a donation at z.umn.edu/emgf17b. ¹ Mason, Harriet. “Making Strides to Improve Maternal Health in Sierra Leone.” UNICEF. Photos courtesy of Gauri Kelkar and Rural Health Care Initiative.
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designing globally
Stamps for Somalia:
illuminating a nation How do you define a country’s design aesthetic? For recent graphic design graduate Kaamil Haider, it starts with a postage stamp. On display at the 2017 Graphic Design Senior Showcase, Haider’s senior exhibit, “Stamps of Somalia: Illuminating a Nation,” explored Somalia’s design style through the creation of original postage stamps. How did you come up with the idea for your exhibit? “Ever since I first started studying graphic design, I have been intrigued by how many design and art movements certain countries have undergone. My interest made me question the absence of Somali design aesthetics in the design history books and the absence of it in my study. It was this void that led me to create “Stamps of Somalia.” The exhibit is my attempt to find a project with which I could channel my thoughts about Somali design aesthetics.” Why did you decide to design stamps and what imagery did you use?
kaamil haider
design.umn.edu
“A stamp, irrespective of its time and space, communicates with the viewer and user a specific history, geography, people, and culture. It is a miniature motif that illuminates a certain ethos and character of a group and place. Though small, stamps
are primary ingredients in building a state What message do you hope people will take and unifying a group of people. Therefore, I away from your project? knew all images for the stamps had to be cultural and national so that all Somalis in the “As Somalia assumes leadership in its world could recognize and be proud of them. political affairs, we need to remember that every one of us is responsible for “A stamp, irrespective of its imagining ways we can help rebuild Somalia. How a letter gets to and from time and space, communicates Somalia is as fundamental as creating with the viewer and user a security. It is a sign of stability, peace, and specific history, geography, pride that will move people to do great people, and culture.” things in their country.” —Kaamil Haider To capture those characteristics of what connects Somalis globally, I designed five stamp categories: 1. Historical and national monuments 2. Regional/state maps 3. The alphabet of the Somali language 4. Religious and cultural artifacts 5. Common animals found in Somalia” What’s your favorite stamp design? “Under the religious and cultural artifact category for the stamp project, I drew the Somali stool (Gambar). The image depicts the Gambar that I created for another exhibit. In addition, I vividly remember using the stool when I was a kid in Somalia. Due to those reasons, the stool design is my favorite.”
What else have you been working on? “Together with a few friends of mine, we created a collective Somali visual artists’ exhibition in 2016 called “Anomalous Expansion” made possible through Somaal House of Art. Acting as the exhibition designer, I also participated in the exhibition as a contributing artist and created two video installations and a sculpture, together called ‛Of Rituals and Rote.’” Where can people see your stamp designs? “For now, my stamps live under an Instagram account (@SomaliStamps) and soon I will publish a website that will host the stamp designs.” Images courtesy of Kaamil Haider. COLLEGE OF DESIGN SPRING 2017 9
alumni
A Lifetime of
architecture and advocacy robert t. coles
When Robert T. Coles (B.A. ’51, Architecture; B.Arch ’53) was in high school, a teacher discouraged him from pursuing a career in architecture, telling him that “there are no black architects.” But Coles was undeterred. Instead, the young design student resolved to not only become an architect but also to become one of the best. “Mine is an example of a person finding an interest and pursuing it with a passion, regardless of the obstacles put in the way. Although my high school teacher had tried to discourage me, I did not let that deter me. As the only African-American out of 250 students at the University of Minnesota’s School of Architecture back in the early ’50s, I did not let the faculty discourage me from pursuing my goal. A few years later, in 1955, I was the first AfricanAmerican to win the prestigious Rotch Travelling Scholarship awarded by the Boston Society of Architects. That convinced me that I had the talent and the education necessary to succeed as an architect. Despite all the obstacles I encountered during my career, I stayed resolute and never gave up.” You can learn more about Coles’s fascinating story in his recent release Architecture + Advocacy and in our interview at z.umn.edu/emgf17c. Headshot courtesy of David R. Gordon. Background image courtesy of Robert T. Coles.
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alumni
alumni notes 1966
Joel H. Goodman’s (B.Arch ’66) “Solar Energy Architectonics” exhibit was on display at the Iowa County Courthouse this April.
1970
Charles Kubat (B.Arch ’70) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.
1971
Mark Swenson (B.E.D. ’71, M.Arch ’73) and his firm ESG were featured in the March issue of Minneapolis/ St. Paul Business Journal.
1976
John Salmen (B.Arch ’76) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows. Bruce Toman (B.Arch ’76) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.
1978
Steve Durrant (B.L.A. ’78 ) and his firm Alta Planning + Design were profiled in the March issue of Landscape Architecture Magazine.
1985
William Blanski (B.Arch ’85) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows. Peter Smith (B.Arch ’85) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows. Burt Visnick’s (M.Arch ’85) firm, Visnick Caufield, received the 2017 International Facility Management Association’s People’s Choice Award.
1989
WholeTrees, cofounded by Roald Gundersen (B.Arch, B.E.D. ’89), received a $250,000 grant to invest in new building information modeling tools and received ARCHITECT magazine’s R+D Award.
1990
Patrick Redmond (M.A. ’90, D.H.A ’90) was appointed to serve on the University’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees Program.
1991
Timothy Johnson (B.Arch ’91) was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows.
The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore received the 2016 Top Honors Award for Exhibit Design from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for its Penguin Coast exhibit, which was designed by CLR Design principal Jón Stefánsson (B.L.A. ’91).
1995
Mike Christenson (B.E.D. ’95, M.Arch ’97) was promoted to full professor of architecture at North Dakota State University.
1997
Eric Lennartson’s (M.Arch ’97) exhibit, TapeScape, created entirely out of 3M packing tape, finished up its 12th installation at the Ipswich Art Gallery. Stephanie Reem (B.S. ’97, Interior Design) is now associate vice president and senior interior designer at HGA Architects and Engineers.
1998
Ernesto Ruiz-Garcia (M.Arch ’98) was promoted to vice president in addition to design director at Opus AE Group.
2001
Ryan Holdorf (B.E.D. ’01, M.L.A. ’05) was promoted to senior associate at Norris Design.
2002
Gretchen Camp (M.Arch ’02) received a 2017 Women in Business Award from Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
2004
Kristofer Layon (M.F.A. ’04, Design) is celebrating his third year as a principal interaction designer at Honeywell International.
2005
Rebecca Van Amber (B.S. ’05, Apparel Design) worked on one of the five teams that received the 2016 H&M Foundation Global Change Award.
2006
Megan Wannarka (B.S. ’06, Apparel Design) has launched a honey bee plant identification project called Bee.otany, which seeks to identify an international list of plants that honey bees can take nectar from.
2010
Allyn Thorpe (B.S. ’10, Housing Studies) was promoted to research analyst team lead at CBRE: Commercial Real Estate Services.
2013
Lauren Strauss (B.S. ’13, Architecture; M.Arch ’16) has been named a staff designer at Quinn Evans Architects.
2015
Sarah Kendzior (B.S. ’15, Retail Merchandising) is now an associate product manager at Kohl’s.
Cody Laberda (B.F.A. ’15, Graphic Design) has accepted a position as a graphic designer/illustrator at Be That Design, LLC. Angie Scott (Ph.D. ’15, Interior Design) was included in the
American Society of Interior Designers’ Ones to Watch Program.
2016
Kyle Armstrong (B.F.A. ’16, Graphic Design) was awarded a Fulbright to teach in Taiwan.
Evgenia Hutson (B.S. ’16, Retail Merchandising) has accepted a position as a product development coordinator with Kohl’s. Liz Kutschke (M.Arch ’16) has joined the College of Design’s Center for Sustainable Building Research as a research fellow.
2017
Danielle Jurichko (B.E.D. ’17) is now a design assistant at APL Landscape Solutions.
Kelsey Kazmierczak (B.S. ’17, Retail Merchandising) has accepted a position at Birchbox as an associate merchant.
In Memoriam
Arthur O. Haugsby (B.Arch ’51) passed away on May 8, 2017, at the age of 91.
class of ’67 celebrates 50th reunion
design alumni receive university awards
This April, the School of Architecture’s class of 1967 celebrated their 50th anniversary. Gathering from across the nation, 19 School of Architecture alumni and their spouses arrived to reconnect, reminisce, and catch up with what’s been going on at the School of Architecture.
Two College of Design alumni will receive awards at the University of Minnesota Alumni Association’s (UMAA) Alumni Awards Celebration this year. Alumnus Ben VandenWymelenberg (B.S. ’12, Architecture) has been named the 2017 recipient of the u40 Award, which is given to an exceptional alumnus age 40 or younger who has excelled in their career. In addition, Betsy Vohs (M.Arch ’04) will receive the University of Minnesota’s top volunteer award, the Alumni Service Award (ASA). The ASA recognizes Vohs’s volunteer service and leadership, and the profound impact it has had on the College of Design. Both will receive their awards during the 2017 Homecoming week.
A two-day celebration coordinated by classmates C. Ron Ostberg and Dale Mulfinger, the reunion kicked off with a welcome from School of Architecture head Marc Swackhamer. This was followed by time for the alumni to participate in project critiques, providing feedback to students pursuing graduate degrees in architecture. After, there was time to stretch with a tour around Rapson Hall before attending a guest lecture by Bolesaw Stelmach. The day culminated with a reunion dinner at the Campus Club, where alumni, spouses, and faculty discussed the high and low points of their careers in architecture. design.umn.edu
On the second day, the alums were treated to a tour of East Bank campus projects led by U of M Capital Planning staffers and alumni Marc Partridge (B.A. ’79, Architecture; M.Arch ’82) and Michael Kisch (B.S. ’03, Architecture; M. Arch ’06; MURP ’09, Urban and Regional Planning). After lunch they created a class memoir. Prior to the gathering, each classmate created a graphic timeline to chart experiences since graduating. The day concluded with a reception at SALA Architects and dinner at Wilde Cafe. Photo by Kelsey Daly.
COLLEGE OF DESIGN FALL 2017 11
students
m.arch on display Graduating M.Arch students concluded their year with final project juries. The students’ projects were not only evaluated for final grades, but also for potential inclusion in the School of Architecture’s M.Arch Awarded Projects Exhibition. Christian Borgan, Miranda Christensen, John Kretchmer, and Kavwimba Mdumuka’s projects were selected to be displayed for the entire summer in Rapson Hall’s HGA Gallery. Pictured above is a rendering from Kretchmer and Mdumuka’s project.
interior design students reimagine the workplace retail merchandising students head to nyc Retail merchandising students Rachel Duerksen, Hau-Yan Lam (pictured), Brittany Nowak, Megan Quist (pictured), Brenna Schlauderaff, and Cathryn Wunrow attended the National Retail Federation’s Big Show in New York City. Conference participants attended show panels and heard from the retail industry’s most innovative and intriguing leaders. z.umn.edu/emgf17g 12 EMERGING SPRING 2017
When designing for today’s workplace, interior designers are increasingly called upon to think beyond the traditional cubicle and create a more contemporary space. Interior design students in Abimbola Asojo and Justine Pliska’s IDES 2604 experienced this first-hand when they were asked to design a third-place work cafe as part of a competition from Haworth. Although the decision was tough, the jurors ultimately selected Emily Walther for first place in IDES 2604 section one and for first place overall. Karly Basara was selected for first place in IDES 2604 section two, and Mikaila Kopcho was named the winner of the social media contest. z.umn.edu/emgf17e
it’s instinct A rite of passage for apparel design seniors, the annual fashion show challenges students to create their own collections and plan an entire runway show. This year’s show, “Instinct,” included work from 15 students whose inspiration ranged from cosplay costuming to Alice in Wonderland. z.umn.edu/emgf17f Pictured is an outfit from Willis Batz-Kamby’s collection INNIT. Photo by Byran Humphrey. facebook.com/uofmdesign
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students
student achievements apparel
Apparel design students Andrea Dunrud and Asiya Youngmark received the People’s Choice Award for their presentation boards at Worn Wear Sustainability. The Runway Designs for Sustainability Awards were given to Haeun (Grace) Bang, Julia Duvall, and Kyrie Todd. Julia Duvall took third place in the Three in Five Research Competition at the Design of Medical Devices Conference. Rachael Granberry has received a NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship. Caitlin Hartman, Evan Ihde, and Quinessa Stibbins won first place
in the 2017 Advanced Textiles Student Design Challenge with their project Load Absorbing Stabilization Crew Sock.
architecture
Keshika De Saram, Xin Hu, and Amanda Weiker were awarded Thomas F. Ellerbe Fellowships by the Minnesota Architectural Foundation. The University of Minnesota’s Team OptiMN took second place in the attached housing category of the Department of Energy’s Race to Zero international student design competition. Team participants were Katrina Grengs, Parul Jain, Lindsey Kieffaber, Chris Laabs, George Liu, Rodrigo Lozada, Tim Markoe, and Luke Nichols.
work hard, play hard If there’s one thing students in Toy Product Design know, it’s how to make work into play. This spring semester, students were challenged by primary class sponsor Target to create a seasonal toy that would bring the family together during the summer, winter, or fall. Students presented their final designs at PLAYsentations to great acclaim. Pictured: Flexy-do by Jack Flood, Celia Gonzalez, Chris Grenfell, Liz Hoke, and Laurel Warner. Photo by Warren Bruland. design.umn.edu
David Thomas Swan received the Design Excellence Award for architecture from DIS Copenhagen.
graphic design
Sarah Corner designed the invitation used by President Kaler for his Friends of Eastcliff Garden Party.
Abbey Kleinert’s work “Acts of Hope” was published in the 2016 Fall/ Winter issue of the Mid America Print Council Journal. Three students were awarded scholarships at AIGA’s Portfolio Review event. Dana Kingery received the Little Scholarship, Rishi Murugesan received the Franke+Fiorella Scholarship, and Hans Slade received the AIGA Minnesota Scholarship.
Emma Zapchenk and Sandy Meirovitz received People’s Choice Awards at Adobe Creative Jam. Rishi Murugesan and Dana Kingery received the Judge’s Award.
human factors and ergonomics
Neil Robert Linscheid received a Bush Foundation Fellowship.
interior design
Jonathan Butler-Knutson received first place in the International Interior Design Association’s NEXT Design Competition. Julia Roath received second place, and Rachel Grothe received the People’s Choice Award. Two groups of students were named regional finalists in the Interior Design
defining place in dinkytown Located on the north side of the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus, Dinkytown is a neighborhood with close ties to the University community. This spring, students in associate professor James Boyd Brent’s Color and Form in Surface Design class were challenged to explore the sense of place in this unique neighborhood by designing a series of handmade screen prints. z.umn.edu/emgf17d
Educators Council 2016–17 Student Design Competition. The first group included Hanna Cairl, Emily Devore, and Binger Xu. The second included Holly Bressler, Megan Miller, and James Thoma. Julie Irish received the 2017 Award for Excellence for Best Presentation—Design Research for her Interior Design Educators Council presentation “Follow the Green Path: The Experiences of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Wayfinding Study.” Lexi Sosalla was a semifinalist in the Steelcase Design Competition.
landscape architecture
Bridget Looby’s project, Invisible Works, received the Award of Excellence in the General Design category of the American Society of Landscape Architects’ 2017 student competition.
retail merchandising
Alexandra Davidson, Sandy Meirovitz, Jill Simon, and Rachel Timmerman won the spring 2017 Weisman Art Museum gift shop display competition. Meredith Gould was named Miss Minnesota and second runner up in the Miss USA pageant.
interning abroad Luke Nichols (Landscape Architecture) spent his summer interning at the Ting Song Library in China’s Hebei province. “The ability to strengthen Ting Song Library’s mission to elevate the lifestyles of this small village with my teaching, pastry, and design skills has been very rewarding.” z.umn.edu/emgf17h Photo courtesy of Luke Nichols. COLLEGE OF DESIGN FALL 2017 13
faculty
meet our new faculty
faculty achievements Abimbola Asojo (Interior Design) received a University of Minnesota Presidential Community Engaged Scholar Award. The following 19 College of Design faculty members were awarded grants from the University’s Imagine Fund: Abimbola Asojo (Interior Design), James Boyd Brent (Graphic Design), Blaine Brownell (Architecture), Arthur Chen (Architecture), Reneé Cheng (Architecture), Vincent deBritto (Landscape Architecture), Richard Graves (CSBR), Linsey Griffin (Apparel Design), Brad Hokanson (Graphic Design), Andrea Johnson (Architecture), Rebecca Krinke (Landscape Architecture), Karen Lutsky (Landscape Architecture), Jacob Mans (Architecture), Kristine Miller (Landscape Architecture), Kristine Mun (Architecture), Laura Musacchio (Landscape Architecture), Eugene Park (Graphic Design), Julia Robinson (Architecture), and Daniela Sandler (Architecture). Courtney Miller Bellairs’s (Architecture) exhibit “Figures in Space” was displayed at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. Blaine Brownell (Architecture) published Transmaterial Next: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine Our Future. Bruce Chamberlain (Landscape Architecture) was elevated to the Council of Fellows by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Reneé Cheng (Architecture) was elevated by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to the AIA College of Fellows.
Bill Conway (Architecture), Kim Johnson (Retail Merchandising), Karen LaBat (Apparel Design), Jim Lutz (Architecture), Caren Martin (Interior Design), and David Pitt (Landscape Architecture) have retired. Lucy Dunne (Apparel Design) presented “On to the Plateau of Productivity: Breaking the Remaining Barriers Toward the Future of Fashion and Smart Clothing” at the Shanghai International Fashion Forum. Tom Fisher’s (Minnesota Design Center) book Designing Our Way to a Better World was named a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in general nonfiction. Tom Fisher presented “The Physical Implications of a Mass-Customization Economy” at the International Symposium for Mass Customization and Design Democratization. Monica Fogg’s (Architecture) exhibit “Nature’s Cadence” was on display at ArtReach St. Croix. Tasoulla Hadjiyanni (Interior Design) received the IDEC Service Award for 2017.
Karen Lutsky’s (Landscape Architecture) article “Curious Methods: The Lessons of Mud” was featured in Places Journal. Jacob Mans’s (Architecture) group research project “One House, Many Nations” was selected to receive a 2017 Multicultural Research Award from the University's Institute for Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy. Jody McGuire (Architecture) was awarded AIA Minnesota’s 2017 Emerging Talent Award. David Pitt (Landscape Architecture) was elevated by the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture to the rank of fellow.
genell ebbini
david loranger
vahan misakyan
ehsan naderi
jennifer newsomcarruthers
jessica rossimastracci
The College of Design is pleased to welcome a number of new faculty this fall. Our new additions include Genell Ebbini in interior design, David Loranger in retail merchandising, Vahan Misakyan in architecture, Ehsan Naderi in product design, Jennifer Newsom-Carruthers in architecture, and Jessica Rossi-Mastracci in landscape architecture.
Marc Swackhamer (Architecture) was promoted from associate professor to professor with tenure. Mary Vogel (Architecture) received the 2017 Richard P. Braun Distinguished Service Award.
Brad Hokanson (Graphic Design) spoke at the 2017 Association for Educational Communications and Technology Conference in Hong Kong. Brad Hokanson (Graphic Design) published Developing Creative Thinking Skills: An Introduction for Learners. Hyunjoo Im (Retail Merchandising) was promoted to associate professor with tenure. In partnership with David Malcolm Scott, Rebecca Krinke’s (Landscape Architecture) exhibit “Time/Keep” was on display at Rosalux Gallery.
14 EMERGING SPRING 2017
Barry Kudrowitz (Product Design) was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor with tenure.
an inside look at design This summer, Abimbola Asojo (Interior Design) and Brian Kelley, director of the Young Builders and Designers Program, hosted Cultural Diversity and Design, an event designed to expose minority and underrepresented students to careers in the design fields. Made possible by a microgrant from the University, participants learned
about different design careers, the history of design as it relates to marginalized communities, and the contributions of minorities and underrepresented designers to the built environment. The students were also given the opportunitiy to collaborate with faculty and design practitioners on a design project.
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upcomingevents For a full listing of College of Design events this fall, visit design.umn.edu/calendar.
U OF M DAY OF SERVICE Design Forward Saturday, October 14; 9:00–11:30 a.m. Urban Ventures umnalumni.org/dayofservice Join Gophers from coast to coast for an alumni day of service. College of Design alumni and friends are invited to convene at the college-hosted Twin Cities project site or one of the dozens of other sites in Minnesota and across the country.
RETAIL CONNECT 2017 Entrepreneurship: Risk and Growth in a Global Economy Thursday, October 26; 5:30–8:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. registration and reception 6:30 p.m. program McNamara Alumni Center Free to students, retail professionals, and mentors. Registration required. z.umn.edu/retailconnect2017 If you’ve ever thought of starting your own business you won’t want to miss this engaging panel discussion. Moderated by Amanda Brinkman, chief brand and communications officer at Deluxe Corporation, the panel features the inspiring founders of three Minnesota-based start-ups.
Dirty Laundry: Delivering the Dirt on Design Wednesday, November 15 6:30 p.m. doors, 7:00 p.m. program 100 Rapson Hall design.umn.edu/dirtylaundry
KEEP IN TOUCH
Here are five (free) ways you can support the College of Design.
You’ll expand your professional networks, enhance college visibility, and improve current student experiences. • Share your career news and accomplishments. • Let us know when your contact information changes. • Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. • Recommend us to future design students. • Post job and internship opportunities. Jarice Sherman Advancement Assistant 612-624-9751 sherm297@umn.edu
Lori Mollberg Director of Alumni Relations 612-625-8796 lmollber@umn.edu
SUPPORT DESIGN
Giving does many things for the College of Design. Find out how you can support
• Student achievement • Community impact • Research that makes a difference Mark Hintz Director of Development 612-624-7808 mihintz@umn.edu
Dirty Laundry delivers the dirt on design. Listen in as design professionals share career tales with a humorous spin. Watch for speaker announcements coming fall 2017.
EXHIBITION Jack Lenor Larsen at 90 Transformations by a Textile Innovator exhibition dates September 22, 2017–January 7, 2018 Goldstein Museum of Design, Gallery 241 Celebrate Jack Larsen’s 90th birthday through the stories of fabrics he has identified as his most innovative. Organized by the Goldstein Museum of Design. Curated by Stephanie Zollinger with Goldstein associate curator Jean McElvain. design.umn.edu
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rome if you want to with our new study abroad program During the 2017 May term, the College of Design’s first open interdisciplinary program took participants from across design disciplines to Rome. Students in the program worked together to discover the productive intersection of ideas, using the city of Rome and its makers as inspiration for interdisciplinary design work. Photos by Gayla Lindt.
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