SIGD Celebrates Inaugural Kaleidoscope Student Show

The exhibition, curated by SIGD faculty and evaluated by a panel of design professionals, offered a diverse and dynamic showcase of creative talents and marked the first-ever school-wide student show in SIGD’s history.

“Kaleidoscope, a celebration of our students’ creativity and talent, represents a milestone achievement in SIGD’s journey,” shared School Head Dr. Wei Wang. “By showcasing student work spanning multiple programs and year levels, we provide students with the opportunity to appreciate the broad scope of design and connect with alumni and design professionals.”

A treasure trove of talent

Hundreds projects were on display, representing a comprehensive range of expertise, from beginners to advanced learners. Pre-Graphic Design (PGDE), Graphic Design (GDES) and Master of Industrial Design (MID) projects were featured on the first floor, while the second floor exhibited second-, third- and fourth-year Industrial Design (INDD) projects, including a guitar design thesis studio, FretHaus, and a bike design thesis studio sponsored by Trek Bikes.

This year’s show included student work in a variety of forms: foundation drawing and design studios, typography, brand identity, packaging, publication design, advertising, web/interactive design, motion graphics, bio design, product design, system design, service design, UI/UX and design research.

Members of the SIGD Advisory Council served as jurors, evaluating more than 500 projects from 200+ students. Each council member selected one project to be recognized, and each winning project received both a custom award, designed and fabricated by SIGD faculty, staff and students, and a book award chosen by Advisory Council members. Titles ranged from Debbie Millman’s Why Design Matters, a compilation of interviews with design visionaries, to Todd McLellan’s Things Come Apart: A Teardown Manual for Modern Living, an analysis of 50 deconstructed everyday objects.

Ellen Stovall, a senior in Graphic Design, was honored for her senior project titled, “WildLily Adventure Tour,” a women’s hiking tour guide through the Appalachian Trail that focuses on safety and community.

“I am extremely thankful and blessed to be recognized by SIGD’s amazing faculty and alumni,” stated Stovall. “It is such an honor to be a part of the first school-wide show, and I can’t wait to see how Kaleidoscope and the School grow in the future!”  

Industry and alumni engagement

In addition to the impressive display of SIGD student work, Kaleidoscope offered opportunities for industry and alumni engagement throughout the day. SIGD leadership and faculty leveraged the presence of the Advisory Council to facilitate one-on-one portfolio reviews, during which students interacted with seasoned professionals, gained valuable feedback and gleaned industry insights. An alumni reunion preceding the opening reception allowed INDD and GDES graduates to reconnect with fellow alumni and explore the exhibition, and alumni were abuzz with excitement as they reminisced about their time at Auburn, exchanged career updates and celebrated the growth of the programs.

“Kaleidoscope was such a fantastic demonstration of Auburn Design DNA!” exclaimed Anjuli Calvert, a 2008 Industrial Design graduate and SIGD Advisory Council member. “Thanks to all the faculty, staff and students for going above and beyond to make the first annual show a huge success!”

Graphic Design alum Kyle Humphrey ’13 echoed Calvert’s enthusiasm.

“Kaleidoscope made such a splash,” Humphrey said. “It was refreshing to see a new take on the end-of-semester show, with intro, typography and 2D/3D work alongside the senior show. The attendance was great, and as an alum, I can’t wait to see how my peers and I can get more involved. Having attended Kaleidoscope, my connection back to Auburn Graphic Design nearly 10 years later is stronger than ever.”

Josh LaFayette, a 2008 Graphic Design graduate, echoed the sentiments of his peers, expressing profound appreciation for the excellence of an Auburn education.

“I have always felt grateful to have gone through the Graphic Design program at Auburn because it set me up with such a strong foundation in design principles,” he stated. “Going back to campus and seeing the work of students from every year and every discipline made such an impact on me. It was amazing to see that the program has lost none of its rigor, and that students in the program decades after me are still being set up for success in the industry. I left the show with a renewed since of pride in our program and our School.”

The event was sponsored by a range of industry partners:

• ROBRADY, a multi-disciplined product design and development studio, was founded by Industrial Design alum Rob Brady ’84.
• With over 40 brands, PlayCore helps build stronger communities around the word by advancing play through research, programs and partnerships. Tom Norquist, Playcore Senior Vice President of Innovation & Business Development, has been co-teaching design studios at Auburn as a Professor of Practice since 2019.
• 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.
• 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.

A team effort

Faculty played a pivotal role in the creation and execution of SIGD’s inaugural school-wide student show. A dedicated team consisting of both Graphic Design and Industrial Design faculty took charge of defining the show’s brand, from its name and tagline to its visual identity. The title, “Kaleidoscope,” and tagline, “Illuminating New Design Perspectives,” were carefully chosen to reflect not only the multifaceted nature of the exhibition but also its mission to showcase a diverse array of design techniques, mediums and skill levels.

Mario Bocanegra, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, led the development of the show’s visual identity and design system, crafting promotional materials in both print and digital formats. His design of a title sequence promoted the show to a broad audience on social media and digital displays, while printed posters were distributed throughout the building to build anticipation among students, faculty and staff. He also designed an animated counterpart to the printed poster.

Bocanegra worked alongside GDES Assistant Professor Lee Clark to create a logo and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency across all materials, while Clark designed and managed the production of promotional products such as stickers.

Clark also teamed up with Jerrod Windham, Associate Professor of Industrial Design, to design directional signage guiding attendees through the exhibition. He was also tasked with creating wayfinding graphics, which he and Clark utilized on signage throughout the building.

Devon Ward, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, designed and coded a custom website, which highlights the breadth of work on display, as well as a map of the building.

GDES Associate Professor Courtney Windham utilized Ward’s exhibition map to design a program detailing the event schedule, scope of work and industrial and graphic design juries, and recognizing faculty, staff and event sponsors for their contributions. She also created project label templates, invitations and name tags.

Zack Kohrman, Senior Lecturer of Industrial Design, spearheaded the design and fabrication of the 27 awards given to honor outstanding student work.

Setting the stage

The months of preparation involved, the combination of exceptional student talent, a dedicated team of faculty and staff and an engaged alumni and industry presence ensured that SIGD’s first Kaleidoscope was a resounding success.

Wang aims to build on that success in years to come. Through continued refinement and expansion, he envisions the show becoming a beacon of creativity and excellence, further enhancing SIGD’s national visibility and attracting top talent and industry partnerships.

“Kaleidoscope provides the opportunity to elevate SIGD’s national reputation and foster community among faculty, students, alumni and industry across programs and disciplines,” Wang said. “We are grateful for the overwhelming support of this year’s event and are excited to see what next year brings. There’s immense talent in our programs, and we are always eager to show it off.”

Kaleidoscope 2024 Awards

GRAPHIC DESIGN AWARDS

Margo Tekell: Form, Tone & Pattern (Foundation Drawing)
Matthew McKelvey: Four-unit Pattern (Foundation Design I)
Aiden Sallin: One’s Self (Foundation Design II)
Bay Matthews: Zoo Poster (Graphic Processes)
Aaliyah Williams: Designer Booklet (Typographics I)
Olivia Herring: “Melt” Identity (Intro to Graphic Design)
Yeeun Cho, Mekhi Kalil and Kendra Love: The People’s Graphic Design Archive: 1980s Luxury Brand Advertising (Graphic Design History)
Carly DeSimone: Website Design for David Carson (Interactive Media)
Veronica Drake: Visual Dialogue (Typographics II)
Deborah Choi: MAC Lipstick Advertisements (Image I)
Emiko Benton, Robert Gleason and Evan Phillips: From the Ashes (Bio Design)
Christina Lin: MUNA (Graphic Design I)
Susan Post: The Museum at FIT Publication Design (Graphic Design II)
Ellen Stovall: WildLily (Senior Project)

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AWARDS

Andrew Mummenthey: Naxala Guard (Product Design)
Catherine Russell: Lock Assist (Product Design)
Miles Pelton: Clean Camp Scrubber/Pelton Apparel (Product Design)
Noah Swaim: Survival Kit/Shoe 904 (Product Design)
Jacob McGraw: Automata—Bull Riding (Product Design)
Cody Fuller: DIY Redesign: “Joey” (Product Design)
Trevor Tolleson: Vulpes (FretHaus Studio)
Yuxuan Zhang: Mirrori (FretHaus Studio)
Perry Sherwood: Trek-Stop (Trek Studio)
Hannah Blanding: ROAM (Trek Studio)
Katie Ann Edgeworth: Rhythm Ring (Thesis Studio)
Liz Waldo: The Fairy Trail (Thesis Studio)
Xilin Tang: Enhancing Design Innovation: Developing Design Skills in the Age of AI (Master of Industrial Design Thesis)