Dezeen School Shows: a 3D-printed PET lampshade and a folding bench are among the latest designs by students at Thomas Jefferson University.

Also featured is a room divider designed for offices and education spaces, and a material exploration into bioplastics for use in the lighting industry.

Thomas Jefferson University

Institution: Thomas Jefferson University
School: School of Design and Engineering
Courses: Intro to Furniture Design, Furniture Design 1, Design 4 – Industrial Design Studio and Design 8 – Industrial Design Capstone
Tutors: Rob Melville, Lyn Godley, Mark Havens and Zachary Samalonis

School statement:

"Industrial design is about creating the future. Through our BS and MS in Industrial Design programmes, students will learn how to design things that transform the lives of people.

"It all starts with the design process, a way of thinking and working to develop strategies for innovation to create sustainable valued products.

"Participating in industry collaboration projects will then sharpen students' skills through a 'real world experience', by presenting their design projects to industry professionals from leading companies like MillerKnoll, Stylex and Dive design.

"The School of Design and Engineering works closely with the College of Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and recently announced a new custom minor/concentration for CABE students in Furniture and Lighting Design.

"The BS in Industrial Design program is NASAD accredited and is now STEM Eligible."

Intro to Furniture Design – Folding Bench by Sam Dorvil

"The Folding Bench is a seating solution crafted from oak and joined using simple domino joinery.

"Designed for easy storage and transport, the bench emphasises straight-forward mechanics, including magnetic catches and steel rods as pivots for its legs.

"Developed over four weeks, the project moved from 1/5 scale model to full-size prototype, combining measured drawings with hands-on fabrication to refine form, fit and function."

Student: Sam Dorvil
Course: BS Industrial Design
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: samuel.dorvil[at]students.jefferson.edu

Intro to Furniture Design – Textile Bench by Skylar Strouss

"Strouss is a textile design student interested in the relationship between textiles and furniture. This bench in solid oak features a 50 per cent recycled polyester jacquard textile seat.

"The design was inspired by bridge construction, developed using a number of scale sketch models. The bench forms part of an entire textiles/furniture series of projects that Strouss has designed for her senior show."

Student: Skylar Strouss
Course: BS Textile Design
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: skylar.strouss[at]students.jefferson.edu
Photo credit: Steven Taylor

Furniture Design 1 – Flujo Screen System by Jeifer Perez

"Flujo is a screen system inspired by architectural elements, with a focus on light, fluidity, rhythm and materiality. Each screen can stand alone or be arranged in sequence to create dynamic, flowing pathways.

"Designed with adaptability in mind, Flujo offers endless flexibility and aims to revitalise stagnant office and higher education environments by introducing movement, interaction and spatial rhythm.

"This project was designed as a hypothetical product for the leading furniture manufacturer, Stylex. Students presented their projects to the Stylex design team at a recent review."

Student: Jeifer Perez
Course: BS Architectural Studies
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: jeifer.perez[at]students.jefferson.edu

Intro to Furniture Design – Modular Storage by Polina Filipova

"This modular storage system was developed by Filipova as an exploration of how furniture can allow space to pass through it, while at the same time, containing it.

"Glass shelves complete the design (not shown in photo). The heavy square section oak contrasts with the light stretched yarn to give the product an interesting tension.

"As an architecture major, with little experience of making, Filipova engaged fully in the craft process, perhaps channelling their cabinet-maker father."

Student: Polina Filipova
Course: B. Arch Architecture
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: polina.filipova[at]students.jefferson.edu

Jefferson Health/MillerKnoll collaboration project – sensory seating by Elijah Jones, Isaac Savinese, Rachael Hannah and Nick Galie

"This award-winning project brought together the Jefferson Industrial Design Department with the Jefferson Centre for Autism and Neurodiversity and MillerKnoll to adapt an existing healthcare waiting room seating system for the needs of people with autism and related conditions.

"Industrial design students developed mock-ups and prototypes, which were then tested with a focus group of young people who are on the spectrum.

"A wrap-around screen enhances enclosure and safety, while a textured, wider armrest offers comfort and focus.

"The adapted seating was manufactured by MillerKnoll and installed on multiple floors of Jefferson Health's new $762 million Honickman centre, in Philadelphia."

Students: Elijah Jones, Isaac Savinese, Rachael Hannah and Nick Galie
Course: BS Industrial Design
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: robert.melville[at]jefferson.edu

Intro to Furniture Design – Coffee Table by Shrey Panchal

"For his furniture design project Panchal created a coffee table using 32 milimetres by 32 milimetres oak, focusing on the exploration of joinery techniques.

"He used half lap cross joints as the primary method of connection, which allowed for both structural integrity and the creation of an interesting visual pattern.

"To allow for efficient batch production the design features just three distinct part types, all of which can be produced using a single jig, along with one column component.

"This approach streamlines the manufacturing process, simplifies part storage while making scaling production more efficient through the use of interchangeable elements."

Student: Shrey Panchal
Course: MS Industrial Design
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: shrey.panchal[at]students.jefferson.edu

Furniture Design 1 – Luso Chair by Maya Wrobel

"The Luso is a simple, adaptable chair to serve as an addition to places where people work, live and learn. The chair would be manufactured using recyclable polyurethane foam with all parts easily separated for reuse or recycling.

"The Luso has a swivel seat allowing users to easily change their orientation, while castors allow for easy mobility and reconfiguration.

"This project was designed as a hypothetical product for the leading furniture manufacturer, Stylex. Students presented their projects to the Stylex design team at a recent review."

Student: Maya Wrobel
Course: BS Industrial Design
Tutor: Rob Melville
Email: maya.wrobel[at]students.jefferson.edu

Industrial Design Studio – 3D-printed Luminaires by Mason Meo

"Meo is an industrial designer with a focus on FDM-based 3D-print material research. The relationship between manufacturing and design is his passion, creating products that take full advantage of available technologies.

"With a focus on research and development he is constantly collecting and applying actionable data in his design process.

"He approaches every project with an understanding of which materials, processes and technology are best suited to his needs.

"Driven by the need to experiment and invent, his goal is to learn as much as possible from every project, with a focus on lighting design and an interest in furniture."

Student: Mason Meo
Course: BS Industrial Design
Tutors: Lyn Godley
Email: mason.meo[at]students.jefferson.edu

Industrial Design Studio – 3D-printed Luminaire by Summer Tang

"This sophomore lighting project features a 3D-printed shade created in collaboration with Dive Design, a leader in 3D-printing.

"Tang was able to print her shade design on the company's Filament Innovation 'Icarus' with clear PET-G material.

"The project exploration included the idea of optic diffusion as a natural result of the printing process; embracing the material and technique for what it is."

Student: Summer Tang
Course: B. Arch Architecture
Tutor: Lyn Godley
Email: summer.tang[at]students.jefferson.edu

Industrial Design Capstone – Bioplastic by Zachary Dutton

"This senior thesis project was based on the goal to develop a versatile bioplastic material to cut down on the contribution of microplastics from the lighting industry.

"Dutton conducted over 200 rounds of development aiming to achieve a material that can be laser cut, with a rigid quality similar to acrylic, taking well to pigmentation and transmitting light well.

"Through these rounds of development many discoveries were made including being able to achieve behaviours similar to silicon, rubber and acrylics."

Student: Zachary Dutton
Course: BS Industrial Design
Tutors: Mark Havens and Zachary Samalonis
Email: zachary.dutton[at]students.jefferson.edu

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and the Thomas Jefferson University. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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