Katherine P. Frank Chancellor | University of Wisconsin-Stout
Katherine P. Frank Chancellor | University of Wisconsin-Stout
More than 200 design professionals, many of whom are alumni from prominent firms in the Upper Midwest, gathered at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for the fourth annual Design Wisconsin event. The university, which boasts the only industrial design program in the Universities of Wisconsin and one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, initiated Design Wisconsin to celebrate industrial and fashion design's impact on Wisconsin’s culture and commerce.
This year marked the first time that UW-Stout hosted the event on its campus from May 16-18. Previously, it was held at Milwaukee Tool in Milwaukee, Trek in Waterloo, and DELVE in Madison. Professor Jennifer Astwood noted that hosting it on campus highlighted student work and showcased UW-Stout's facilities.
The event featured keynote presentations by professionals, mostly UW-Stout alumni, along with student portfolio reviews, product showcases, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and workshops. Astwood emphasized that it was important for attendees to learn about meaningful industry topics beyond company profiles.
A notable presentation by Matthew Gueller of Milwaukee Tool and Gregor Mittersinker of Loft Design discussed artificial intelligence in design. A new panel discussion included talent from companies like Trek, Polaris, and Ashley Furniture Industries.
Next year's Design Wisconsin is scheduled for May 30 at Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh.
UW-Stout alum Kiki Redhead was among industry leaders present. As a global CMF and trend manager for Sherwin-Williams, she explained CMF (color, material, finish) as a cross-disciplinary approach vital to product design. Redhead described her career path from an apprentice interior designer to developing her own trend methodology before joining Sherwin-Williams.
Brynn Wildenauer also participated as a speaker. A senior architectural color designer for Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings and a 2018 graduate of UW-Stout’s industrial design program, she highlighted how her education prepared her for creating coatings used on various architectural products.
Noah Anderson was another alumnus who contributed to a keynote presentation at Design Wisconsin. As a senior footwear designer at Red Wing Shoe Company since 2014, Anderson shared insights into bridging gaps between footwear and apparel design fields.
Alerts Sign-up