Sponsored this year by Procter & Gamble, the competition selects winning products based on innovation, understanding of production and marketing principles, as well as the quality of entry materials.
The winning industrial design students and their products will be on display during The Inspired Home Show 2023 from 4-7 March at McCormick Place, Chicago.
First place with a prize of $3,500, went to Katherine Gaylord for Stack – a drying rack for breast pump pieces, which helps nursing mothers who pump in public to safely, easily and discreetly wash, dry and store equipment.
Judge Amanda Bolton of Proctor & Gamble, commented: “Stack is a clear winner because Katherine saw the many complications that mothers face with breast milk pumping and developed an all-integrated product. Her design is visually beautiful, calming, inviting and a great example of human-centred innovation.”
Two students won the second-place awards of $2,300 each. Alicja Ramotowski with SPIN- a home wool dispenser and storage solution, and Austin Liebgott for Alma – a produce keeper and ripener.
Three students will share third place with a prize of $1,000 each: Aiden Schutte for Planted – which helps inexperienced or time-poor plant owners to maintain healthy plants; Charlotte Brittain with Chi – a tactile safety system for the visually impaired; and Augustine Curran-Munoz for GROUND – a coffee grounds storage system which promoted the recycling of used grounds by storing and heat-treating them for future fertiliser use.
Six projects received an honourable mention and $250 each, including Ian Allard for CircL – an assisted composter; Haleigh Esene for Knot – a re-designed kettlebell; Sydney Florine for Tube – a bird feeder for senior citizens; Yuanxiang Huang for Sol – a sunrise alarm; Anna Lorino for SafeSteam – a steam iron for people with visual impairments; and Ray McVicker for Glo Charcoal Grill.
