Third Annual Kaleidoscope Student Show Highlights Student Creativity

May 13, 2026

A person holds a yellow sticker reading kaleidoscope Auburn Design Show outdoors, with a blurred background of people and trees.

On Monday, April 27, Auburn’s School of Industrial and Graphic Design (SIGD) welcomed over 800 students, faculty, staff, alumni and industry partners to campus for the third annual Kaleidoscope: Auburn Design Show.

Curated by SIGD faculty and evaluated by a panel of design professionals, this year’s Kaleidoscope built on last year’s success that earned SIGD the Dean’s Outstanding Collaboration Award in the 2026 College of Architecture, Design and Construction Awards in April.

“Kaleidoscope is a very public moment where students put their work out into the world and show not just what they’ve made, but why it matters—why design matters,” said Ben Rivers ‘96, a member of the SIGD Advisory Council who served as a juror. “It creates excitement and a real energy you can feel across students, faculty, the advisory council and campus. It brings the work to life and makes design tangible for everyone.”

Showcasing Innovation

Over 550 student projects lined the walls for this year’s Kaleidoscope, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the talents of SIGD students. Work from Pre-Graphic Design (PGDE), Graphic Design (GDES) and Master of Industrial Design (MID) students filled the first floor, while Industrial Design (INDD) projects—including senior thesis studios like FretHaus—were exhibited on the second floor.

Projects on display spanned a wide variety of disciplines: typography, brand identity, publication design, motion graphics, UI/UX and product and service design.

SIGD Advisory Council members served as jurors, giving out nearly 40 awards. Each juror selected a standout project, with winners receiving custom-designed awards and book prizes chosen by the council.

A woman examines colorful artwork displayed on a table at an art exhibit, with additional people viewing pieces on the walls in the background. — Attendees appreciated the vibrant and thoughtful Graphic Design projects on display.

A workspace with guitar body parts, tools, and materials on the table; a wall behind displays sketches, photos, and designs of guitars and related reference images. — Project development, research and process for the FretHaus studio was displayed alongside the final guitars.

A man in an orange shirt stands in front of a wall displaying various artworks and designs in a gallery or exhibition space. — Wallace Hall was transformed into a student exhibition, with over 800 attendees throughout the space.

Display of colorful sneakers on a central table in a well-lit exhibition room, with posters, information panels, and hanging decorations on the walls and ceiling. — Sneaker designs by Industrial Design students highlighted creativity and technical skill in product development.

Among those honored was Graphic Design junior Claire Miller, who was recognized for her typographic interpretation of “The Judgement of the Birds,” which she completed in Associate Professor Samantha Herbert’s Typographics II course.

“Judgment of the Birds is a short story by Loren Eiseley, and I wanted to use this experimental type booklet to explore the story’s themes of how seeing the world from a new perspective changes your own pattern of thought,” Miller said.

Industrial Design graduate Elisabeth Doss ‘26 received two awards; one for her electric guitar “Strata,” inspired by Red Rocks Amphitheater, and one for her chair design “Fika,” a reading chair. She lauded the Industrial Design program for giving her the craftsmanship skills for both projects.

A person in a tiger mascot costume poses in the foreground while two people play guitar in a decorated room with MTV logos and guitars on the wall. — SIGD Professor of Practice Keith Medley, a FretHaus studio partner, performed using a student’s guitar.

Assorted branded materials, including phone mockups, bags, buttons, and printed collateral, are displayed on a wooden table beneath marketing posters on a wall. — Student design projects highlight the hard work and creativity of SIGD students.

Recent GDES alumna Liv Chatta ‘26 was recognized for her senior project “Seasoned Companions.”

“I strive to make impactful, meaningful designs, and Seasoned Companions reflects the kind of positive change I hope to contribute to the world,” Chatta said. “I’m honored to have received the Juror Award and deeply grateful that the advisory council and graphic design committee see value in my work.”

Similarly, recently INDD alum Brooks Moore ‘26 received an award for his thesis project “Re-Entry,” as part of the FretHaus Studio, run by Professor Rich Britnell.

“I honestly can’t think of a better project to close out my time at Auburn with,” Moore said. “I’m just beyond thankful for continually being pushed by my friends and professor to help make this dream a reality.”

Celebrating Connections

Each year, the Kaleidoscope Show is a collaborative effort, bringing together faculty, students and alumni. Assistant Professor Mario Bocanegra developed the poster, motion assets, stickers and wayfinding system. Associate Professor Courtney Windham designed the program, while Assistant Professor Devon Ward designed the website and updated the online gallery.

Beyond the exhibition, Kaleidoscope continued to serve as a hub for professional engagement. SIGD hosted portfolio reviews between students and design professionals, providing invaluable real-world feedback, and an alumni reunion offered graduates a chance to reconnect, network and explore the latest student work. With its growing reach and reputation, Kaleidoscope continues to position SIGD students for success and connection beyond the classroom.

SIGD Alumni Council member Zach Hobbs ‘02 said he was blown away by the show.

“When I look back at my time at Auburn, I had no idea how well it was preparing me for the things that I would do in my career,” he said. “Auburn is a place where design and creativity can take root and thrive. The Kaleidoscope shows that we take youth expression seriously.”

The event was sponsored by a range of industry partners:

Copperwing Design, founded by Auburn Graphic Design graduate Angela Stiff ’91, is an experienced branding, marketing and motion creative group. SIGD Advisory Council member Avery Dove ’18 currently serves as Graphic Designer and Motion Designer at Copperwing.
Yotrio Group, founded in 1992, is an industry leader in the development and implementation of innovative outdoor furniture. Yotrio’s Executive Vice President of Design is Wright Currie, a 2008 Industrial Design alum.
Derse specializes in the planning and production of exhibits, events and marketing environments. Industrial Design alum Daniel Lamb ’08 currently serves as Creative Director at Derse.

A person wearing glasses and a maroon shirt stands smiling in front of a display of graphic design artworks and posters on a wall. — Students proudly displayed their work for attendees to view and interact with.

Charcoal drawings displayed on a whiteboard: draped fabric studies, a still life with headphones, and a portrait of an older man wearing an eye patch and glasses. — Projects on display spanned all year levels, including foundation studios like Drawing.

A woman stands by a display board with design materials, talking to a man in a wheelchair who gestures with his hand in a public indoor setting. — The long-running Graphic Design Senior Show, integrated into Kaleidoscope, highlighted the depth and range of graduating students’ work.

A person stands in a design studio, looking at walls covered with sketches, notes, and design plans. Several desks hold models, papers, and drawing tools. — Throughout the busy bustle, attendees were able to sit thoughtfully with the student work.

Kaleidoscope 2026 Awards

GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS

Chase Lowe: Expressive Object of Clothing (Foundation Drawing I)
Ellie Johnson: 4-Unit Pattern (Foundation Design I)
Reese Wilds: Accordion Object + Box (Foundation Design II)
Abigail Hollis: Bryce Canyon National Park (Graphic Processes)
Cullen Host: Letters of Introduction (Typographics I)
Mia Smith: The Tex Table (Intro to Graphic Design)
Hannah Price, Katlyn Pilkington, Lily Ezell: The Future of Graphic Design is Interdisciplinary (Graphic Design History)
Claire Wiggins: Bird: Weather App (Interactive Media)
Lydia Rotta: Design Fiction: 2045 Biohive (Advanced Interactive Media)
Morgan Lockhart: Remember that you are loved (Kinetic Type)
Claire Miller: Typographic Interpretation: The Judgement of the Birds (Typographics II)
Bay Matthews: Image in Motion: Psycho Killer (Image II)
Lydia Rotta, Sophie McDaniel, Leila Mendonca: Mobile Delta Festival (Biodesign)
Ally Mathis: Aoairie Spot Commercial (Motion Design)
Caroline Waller: Hooked! (Graphic Design I)
Lillian Grace Gibbs: Fleetwood Mac Backstage Publication (Graphic Design II)
Liv Chatta: Seasoned Companions (Senior Project)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AWARDS

Grace Fenniman: Mobile (Design Principles)
Chloe Hoefling: Four Boards, Five Books (Design Principles)
Lya Marcela Nolasco Lopez: Outside In: Tabletop Clock (Design Principles)
Blakely Chandler, Avery Miller, Andrew Carrie: Wingspan: SIGD Yearbook (Kultur Studio)
Malen Stodghill, Andrew Powell: Professor Bobbleheads: (Kultur Studio)
Marcello Mancusi: The Grovestar (Product Design)
Rachel Hu: Bu LingYun (Product Design)
Christian Frost: X-Fin (Product Design)
Adler Rux: The Cow (Furniture)
Elisabeth Doss: Fika, A Reading Chair (Furniture)
Kelsey Finlayson: Readapt (Product Design Thesis)
Dawson Emerson: Lumninote (Product Design Thesis)
Brooks Moore: Re-Entry (FretHaus Studio)
Elisabeth Doss: Strata (FretHaus Studio)
Andrew Mummenthey: Designing for Narrative Interaction (Master of Industrial Design Thesis)

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