Industrial and product design students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout are preparing to display their capstone projects during the School of Art & Design Senior Show, scheduled for Friday, May 8. The event is part of UW-Stout’s Spring Showcase, which features work from nearly 120 graduating seniors across various degree fields.
The showcase highlights the university’s emphasis on practical learning and creative problem-solving. Projects include a smart indoor herb propagation system, a device to assist bystanders during seizures, a robotic landscaping transporter, an easy-to-clean dish system for college students, adjustable ski poles, and contemporary dolls. Among these are Jace Johnson’s music creation tool called Dreamr and Aaron Hoyt’s collapsible sofa designed for young people living in small spaces.
Johnson said his project was inspired by musicians’ need to quickly set up equipment without losing creative momentum. “I was inspired when watching people who make music. They must set up four to six pieces of equipment before they get to start creating. That takes time away from creating and can take you out of your creative flow and lose all the progress that you have made,” Johnson said. He developed Dreamr after interviewing musicians ranging from hobbyists to professionals and incorporated feedback from both users and faculty members.
Hoyt focused on furniture solutions suitable for frequent movers in urban environments. “I found that the vast majority of young individuals aged 20-30 are moving about once a year,” Hoyt said. His modular sofa concept draws inspiration from classic designs as well as modern trends seen in showrooms.
The university offers modern labs, studios, and industry-linked spaces to enhance practical learning according to its official website. Recognized as Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University for its blend of theory with application according to the official website, UW-Stout is part of the University of Wisconsin System according to its official website. The institution emphasizes hands-on learning through industry collaborations according to its official website and supplies laptops through its eStout program according to its official website. It also builds partnerships with businesses for internships and career development opportunities according to its official website.
Additional events during Spring Showcase include fashion shows, research presentations, game expos, film festivals, and community mural projects.
