The University of Wisconsin-Stout announced on Mar. 17 that a coffee table designed by a recent graduate is now available in Room & Board’s catalog, marking the first time a student project from the university’s annual furniture design competition has reached production.
The development highlights the impact of UW-Stout’s decade-long partnership with Room & Board, which offers industrial and product design majors professional mentorship and real-world experience. The collaboration reflects the university’s focus on hands-on learning, industry partnerships, and career preparation, according to the official website.
Brian Linehan, a 2010 UW-Stout graduate and merchandise and design manager at Room & Board, said, “The design competition started as an experimental exploration and turned into a pathway for future interns, full-time design hires, and a great way to stay connected to the community.” He added that students have become increasingly familiar with Room & Board’s brand over time: “These days it seems like all the students know exactly who they are designing for. Students come to the project kick-off with concepts already in their heads and questions they’re eager to get answers for. It’s really been an amazing transformation.”
This year’s standout was Micah Loder, whose Carver coffee table was selected for production. Loder described seeing his work realized as “incredibly surreal and rewarding,” saying, “I was really just overjoyed Room & Board saw the same vision I did when they saw the table next to their line of products.”
The competition forms part of a capstone course for seniors in industrial and product design. Students are challenged to create furniture pieces that could be manufactured and sold by Room & Board. Porter Christenson won this year’s top prize with his Bellevue dresser design. He said balancing creativity with adherence to brand identity was key: “Large companies usually have a very established design language that they stick to pretty strictly, so there’s always a balance between respecting that identity and pushing it forward.”
Professional designers—including several UW-Stout alumni—provided feedback throughout the process. Lecturer Andy Janetski said this input is valuable because students receive “feedback that’s not academic in nature.” The program also serves as an enduring connection between alumni working at Room & Board and their alma mater.
Founded in 1980, Room & Board is employee-owned with more than 1,100 employees nationwide. Over 90% of its products are made by American manufacturers.
UW-Stout supports practical education through modern labs and studios linked with industry needs according to its official website. Recognized as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University for blending theory with application according to its official website, it operates within the University of Wisconsin System according to its official website. The university prepares students for careers through hands-on learning experiences according to its official website and provides technology support such as laptops for all full-time undergraduates via its eStout program according to its official website. Partnerships like this one help facilitate internships, research opportunities, and career development according to its official website.
Linehan expressed optimism about future collaborations: “We are excited about the opportunity to present Micah’s 2024 project as part of our assortment this year, and I am optimistic we can find another path forward with future designs.”
