Purdue Industrial Designers Sweep National Competition

Purdue Industrial Designers Sweep National Competition
Purdue University students have blitzed a national contest with unconventional designs for a self-filtering water bottle, lasers that mow lawns and massage therapy stones.

The three top awards come on the heels of two other Purdue designs that won acclaim, including one that created a new approach to a child's bicycle.

"Our industrial design students are amazing," says Scott Shim, assistant professor of visual and performing arts.

"In this most recent contest, they were asked to investigate why everyday things are designed a certain way, then challenge that design to make them more efficient or functional."

The competition, Eye for Why, was sponsored by Dyson, an international vacuum company, and is associated with Industrial Designers Society of America. Shim's 16 design students, who are all seniors, entered the contest. Fifty students submitted entries.