IHA’s 30th annual Student Design Competition presents products to simplify consumer lives


February 16, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau

IHA’s 30th annual Student Design Competition presents products to simplify consumer lives

Elegant products that simplify consumer lives received top prizes at the International Housewares Association’s (IHA) 30th annual Student Design Competition, the industry’s preeminent student design contest which this year celebrates three decades of innovation for the house and home.

This year’s winners include a breast pump washing basin for moms on the go; a yarn storage system for crafters; a produce keeper and ripener; a plant watering system; a tactile safety system for the visually impaired; and a coffee grounds storage and recycling system.

The winning industrial design students and their products will be on display during The Inspired Home Show 2023, IHA’s global home + housewares marketplace, March 4-7 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The winners and their products can be viewed on the Show’s website.

The competition challenges college students to redesign a current housewares product to meet the needs of the future or to create a concept for a new product. Winning projects are selected for their innovation, understanding of production and marketing principles and quality of entry materials.

Katherine Gaylord, a junior at University of Notre Dame acquired the first place and $3,500 for Stack, a breast pump drying rack for the breast pump pieces. It helps nursing mothers who pump at work or in public restrooms to safely, easily and discreetly wash, dry and store breast pump equipment.

Two students will be honoured with second place awards of $2,300 each: Alicja Ramotowski, a senior from University of Notre Dame for SPIN, a home yarn dispenser and storage solution; and Austin Liebgott, a junior from Appalachian State University for Alma, a produce keeper and ripener.

SPIN utilises an angled trajectory to make the dispensing process of yarn as seamless as possible and works with a variety of differently spun yarns. Additionally, the user can place needles and unfinished projects into the spool of yarn as a simultaneous storage and display piece.

Developed in response to the enormous amount of food waste across the globe, Alma keeps produce fresh while simultaneously being eco-friendly by reducing consumption and lowering consumers’ carbon footprint. Alma refrigerates produce without the use of electricity and expedites the ripening process so fresh produce can be enjoyed when desired.

Three students will share the third place, and each will receive a $1,000 prize. Planted, by Aiden C. Schutte, junior at Western Michigan University, helps inexperienced or time-crunched plant owners maintain healthy plants and a desired aesthetic in the home. Water gets to the soil by penetrating through a hole at the bottom of the planter, which allows the plant to drink as much as it needs without overwatering.

Chi, by Charlotte Brittain, senior at the Cleveland Institute of Art, is a tactile safety system for the visually impaired, providing invisible hazard awareness. The system of wearable sensory devices consists of a visual sensor, vibrating feedback units, a digital data hub and charging home. Chi helps the visually impaired identify overhead hazards that cannot be detected by the traditional white cane. This cutting-edge technology also shows promise in the advancement of assistive technology.

GROUND from Augustine Curran-Muñoz, a Purdue University senior, is a coffee grounds storage system that promotes recycling of used grounds by storing and heat-treating them for future fertilizer use. GROUND heat-treats the coffee grounds passively in a dedicated storage capsule and compresses the grounds when ready into compact fertilizer pucks, saving greatly on storage space.

Six projects merited an honourable mention and their designers and will receive $250 each:

  • Ian Allard, junior at Kendall College of Art and Design, for circL – assisted composter.
  • Haleigh Esene, senior at University of Houston, for Knot, a re-designed kettlebell.
  • Sydney Florine, senior at University of Notre Dame, for tube, a bird feeder for senior-citizens.
  • Yuanxiang E Huang, junior at Western Washington University, for Sol, a sunrise alarm.
  • Anna Lorino, junior at Western Michigan University, for SafeSteam, a steam iron for people with visual impairments.
  • Ray McVicker, junior at Western Washington University, for Glo Charcoal Grill.

Meanwhile, 70 finalists for IHA Global Innovations Awards (gia) for product design have been announced as well. Global honorees in each of 14 categories will be announced during the invitation-only gia dinner Saturday, March 4 during The Inspired Home Show 2023, IHA’s Global Home + Housewares Market, at Chicago’s McCormick Place Complex.

In addition, the Housewares Charity Foundation will honour three industry philanthropists – including Bloomingdale’s Daniel Leppo; Select Brands’ William Endres; and The Home Edit’s Clea Shearer – during the 2023 annual Housewares Cares Charity Gala.

Previous Article Next Article

SHARE

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE /


Rajiv Warrier, Chief Executive Officer, Choithrams

Since the launch of its first store in the UAE five decades 

Continue Reading

March 20, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Dr. Dhananjay Datar Chairman & Managing Director ADIL Trading Co. LLC

Dr. Dhananjay Datar Chairman & Managing Director ADIL Trading Co. LLC holds 

Continue Reading

February 29, 2024 | By Rupkatha B
Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Retail

In 1995 regional retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim introduced Carrefour to the 

Continue Reading

February 26, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Prashant Parameswaran, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Tata Consumer Soulfull

Tata Soulfull, a leading name in the ‘good-for-you’ snacks and breakfast cereals 

Continue Reading

February 22, 2024 | By Rupkatha B
Jean-Luc Graziato, Chief Commercial Officer of Majid Al Futtaim – Retail and Alia Al Harmoodi, Acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency

Majid Al Futtaim – Retail, which holds the exclusive franchise to operate 

Continue Reading

February 20, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Krishna Dhanak, Managing Director, Alpen Capital

In an exclusive interview Krishna Dhanak, Managing Director, Alpen Capital shared insights 

Continue Reading

February 19, 2024 | By Rupkatha B
Majed M. Al-Tahan, Co-founder & Managing Director, Danube Online

As digital transformation across the retail industry continues to accelerate, the expectations 

Continue Reading

December 19, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau
Frederic Levy-Perrault, CEO, Al Raya Supermarket

Saudi Arabia-based grocery retail chain Al Raya Supermarket serves over 100,000 customers 

Continue Reading

December 15, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau
Ahmad AR. BinDawood, Chief Executive Officer, BinDawood Holding

BinDawood Holding has a rich Saudi heritage, spanning over 50 years, 38 

Continue Reading

December 13, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau
Majid Al Futtaim Retail commits to Collaborative Impact Goals at COP28

Majid Al Futtaim Retail, which owns the exclusive rights to operate Carrefour 

Continue Reading

December 8, 2023 | By Rupkatha B
BinDawood Holding Company earns Honorary Shield for Compliance Excellence

BinDawood Holding Company has earned an Honorary Shield, a distinguished recognition by 

Continue Reading

December 6, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau
First Movers Coalition for Food to create up to $20-bn value chain for sustainable farming

The World Economic Forum, with support from the Government of the United 

Continue Reading

December 5, 2023 | By RetailME Bureau




Download Images RetailME Magazine