Color & Materials Design Archives | ��ר��

Anuja Raja ’19, Color & Material Design: Featured in Ford From the Road

Isabella McLaury — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:37:47 +0000

With an MFA in Color & Material Design, Raja approaches her work as a global design strategist through a storytelling lens, helping curate artwork that reflects Ford’s brand, history, and future across the new campus.

The post appeared first on ��ר��.

The Detroit Difference: ��ר�� Students at the Forefront of Local Innovation

Isabella McLaury — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:56:46 +0000

Located in the heart of midtown Detroit, ��ר��’s prime location offers unparalleled opportunities for art and design collaboration. Our students have found countless ways to make a positive impact on local metro Detroit businesses through innovative art and design problem-solving.

Last year alone, ��ר�� students collaborated to problem-solve timely topics for 15 metro Detroit businesses and nonprofit organizations. They addressed a range of issues in healthcare product design, sustainability, mobility, and even emerging augmented reality technology.

Embracing the city’s rich history of cultural and sporting events, students continue to participate in annual design competitions to create the newest posters for iconic Detroit events such as the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix Presented by Lear, the Movement Music Festival and the 313 Presents Pine Knob concert series.

Here’s a look at some of the partnerships:

Augmented Reality Center (ARC) in partnership with Oakland University x Communication Design & Strategy, Graduate User Experience Design and Entertainment Arts
Crain Communications – Automotive News x Illustration
313 Presents x Illustration
Detroit Grand Prix x Illustration
GM x Transportation Design & Graduate User Experience Design
Godnii x Graduate Color & Materials Design
Hagopian Rug Competition x All Departments
State of Michigan Office of Future Mobility and Electrification with support from the Global Epicenter of Mobility x Transportation Design
Zumiez and Somerset Collection x Illustration
BorgWarner x Product Design
Carhartt x Fashion Design
Henry Ford Health x Product Design
Changing Lives and Staying Sober (C.L.A.S.S.) x Interior Design and Graduate Color & Materials Design

The post The Detroit Difference: ��ר�� Students at the Forefront of Local Innovation appeared first on ��ר��.

Detroit-Based Eyewear Brand GODNII Taps Into ��ר�� Graduate Color & Materials Students For New Eyewear Collection

Isabella McLaury — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:22:14 +0000

What does it look like to work over 100 hours to handcraft a single pair of eyeglasses and only use local materials? First and second-year Graduate Color & Materials Design (CMD) students at ��ר�� got to experience this firsthand this past semester when they worked collaboratively with GODNII, a sustainable Detroit-based eyewear brand.

GODNII asked CMD students to work in small groups to explore hyperlocal sustainable alternatives in color and material design, texture, and branding for an upcoming eyewear collection. In their research, students were asked not only to delve deep into the resources and materials available locally but also to consider the waste streams and innovative ways to improve material choices without compromising design quality.

“This project was pure inspiration,” said Ali Evans, Founder and Creative Director of GODNII. “Collaborating with ��ר�� has been a longtime hope of ours, and it lived up to everything we imagined. The students brought forward deep research, bold ideas, and a clear vision for the future of sustainable fashion. Their work affirmed what we already believed—creativity with purpose can shift the industry. At GODNII, we’re excited to carry these insights forward as we continue designing not just for style, but for impact.”

This project was brought to life through ��ר��’s new Practicing Design Center (PDC), an initiative that pairs small businesses and nonprofit organizations with ��ר�� students and faculty to address real-world challenges through art and design.

Shannon McPartlon, Executive Director of the Office of Partnerships explains, “The ��ר�� Practicing Design Center is not just an extension of the classroom; it’s a bridge connecting student creativity with real-world needs, fostering a generation of career-ready designers while simultaneously infusing fresh, creative solutions and economic vitality into local non-profits, small businesses and the broader Detroit economy.”

You can learn more about the College’s Practicing Design Center here:

You can learn more about GODNII here:

The post Detroit-Based Eyewear Brand GODNII Taps Into ��ר�� Graduate Color & Materials Students For New Eyewear Collection appeared first on ��ר��.

Winter 2025 Sponsored Projects at the ��ר��

Amber Zundel — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:00:55 +0000

During the Winter semester, the ��ר�� hosted 14 sponsored projects, including a diverse range of sponsored projects and competitions that engaged a variety of academic departments. Students partnered with local and global brands to work on a specific project tailored to meet the needs of our industry sponsors. Educational partnerships at ��ר�� are highly conceptual and allow ��ר�� students the opportunity to participate in creative, research-based assignments, interacting with designers and staff from the collaborating company. Highlighted collaborations during the Winter semester include:

- Augmented Reality Center (ARC) in partnership with Oakland University x Communication Design and Strategy, MFA User Experience Design and Entertainment Arts
- Crain Communications – Automotive News x Illustration
- 313 Presents x Illustration
- BorgWarner x Product Design
- Covestro x MFA Transportation Design
- Detroit Grand Prix x Illustration
- GM x BFA Transportation Design & MFA User Experience Design
- GODNII x MA/MFA Color and Materials Design
- Hagopian Rug Competition x All Departments
- Office of Future Mobility and Electrification with support from the Global Epicenter of Mobility x Transportation Design
- MAWBY Sparkling Wines x Illustration
- Trek Bikes x Product Design
- University of Michigan Dearborn – Environmental Interpretive Center x Communication Design and Strategy & Interior Design
- Zumiez and Somerset Collection x Illustration

Display of ��ר�� and Zumiez collab in glass showcase at Somerset Collective

��ר�� x Trek

Communication Design students and faculty posing at the University of Michigan Environmental Interpretive Center

Rendering for GM-sponsored studio by ��ר�� undergrad Transportation Design students Lex Michael, Jean Pierre Ledderman, and graduate Transportation Design student Prithvi Vetrivel.

��ר�� Immersive Tech Certificate x OU Arc

Glasses frame prototypes from the GODNII sponsored studio with graduate studies Color & Materials Design students

Winner of the Hagopian Rug Competition posing with their design alongside ��ר�� President and Edmond Hagopian

“This project was pure inspiration,” said Ali Evans, Founder and Creative Director of GODNII. “Collaborating with ��ר�� has been a longtime hope of ours, and it lived up to everything we imagined. The students brought forward deep research, bold ideas, and a clear vision for the future of sustainable fashion. Their work affirmed what we already believed—creativity with purpose can shift the industry. At GODNII, we’re excited to carry these insights forward as we continue designing not just for style, but for impact.”

The post Winter 2025 Sponsored Projects at the ��ר�� appeared first on ��ר��.

Fall 2024 Sponsored Projects at the ��ר��

Megan Mesack — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 10:30:41 +0000

Over the course of the Fall semester, the ��ר�� hosted 11 sponsored projects and competitions across a variety of disciplines. Students from a wide range of disciplines partnered with local and global brands to work on a specific project tailored to meet the needs of our industry partners. Sponsored projects are highly conceptual and allow ��ר�� students the opportunity to participate in creative, research-based assignments within real-world design parameters, interacting with designers and staff from the partnering company. Highlighted collaborations during the Fall semester include:

313 Presents x Illustration
American Chemistry Council x Transportation Design
Calty Design x Transportation Design & Color and Materials Design
Carhartt x Fashion Design
DSC x Product Design
Gordie Howe International Bridge project x Product Design
Henry Ford Health x Product Design
Honda Motor Company x ��ר��
Lacks Enterprises x Studio Art and Craft
Volkswagen x Communication Design & Strategy and Transportation Design
Whirlpool x Product Design

“The most important project that I did at ��ר�� was a sponsored project,” said Hakha Masahyekhi, ’15 Integrated Design (MFA) reflecting on his time here. “It was so valuable to get real feedback from working professionals. That’s something that you never get in school.”

The post Fall 2024 Sponsored Projects at the ��ר�� appeared first on ��ר��.

Kristine Lipinski (’03 Product Design)

Megan Mesack — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:30:10 +0000

Growing up in an automotive-heavy family in Michigan, Kristine Lipinski had zero interest in following in their footsteps. It wasn’t until the unexpected intersection of two of her passions – design and rugby – that her path changed. After graduating from the ��ר�� (��ר��), she moved to France and eventually began working for the world-renowned car manufacturer Renault. An opportunity to attend a French bilingual school as a child would foreshadow her unique connection to France and jump-start an incredible career and life across the pond.

The Interview

“Sometimes when destiny calls, you go, OK? I have to go to Paris to work at a company called De Trois that does concept cars.”

–Kristine Lipinski

How did you end up here in Paris?

I’m from Michigan, born and raised, and grew up in Royal Oak and Sterling Heights. I had an opportunity as a child to attend a bilingual French school, but was not receptive to that idea at the time. Then at ��ר��, there was an opportunity to participate in an exchange program to study abroad, but I did not pursue that direction. Little did I know, the opportunity to move to France would come up again later.

I have a double life. Other than design, I play rugby. And it just so happened that I started playing for the Detroit City side team and met my now ex-husband. He had been living in Detroit for a couple years and wanted to move back. So French culture started looking for me, it’s weird. And I thought alright, this is like the third or fourth time that France has been calling me, maybe I should listen. So I did, we moved, and about nine months after I got here, I had a job offer from a concept car company called D3. I don’t know if you know how to say “D” and “3” in French … de trois.

Sometimes when destiny calls, you go, OK? I have to go to Paris to work at a company called De Trois that does concept cars.

I showed up here, like really, everything fell into place. It was perfect.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a designer, or is that something that you found out later in life?

I had the excellent opportunity in high school to have an amazing art teacher, Pete Long. He was the best. He pushed us to really explore boundaries.

Growing up, my mother was in finance and my dad built homes. So I come from a very technical family, and me being artistic was kind of like just a hobby. So I studied science, thinking there was no path forward in art. Well, I realized at one point, I didn’t want to wear a lab coat the rest of my life. So I did some foundry studies at Central Michigan and I called that high school art teacher one day, and I said, “I want to go to art school.” He said, “Finally.” He actually helped me put together my portfolio with everything that I had done, even stuff from high school, and I got accepted. And it was thanks to him.

What does a day in your life look like?

A lot more meetings than I anticipated in design school. That’s the fortunate and unfortunate parts of this career. There is a lot of corporate and administrative involvement, a lot of politics, a lot of compromising with purchasing, with engineering, administration. Even though we may have the best and greatest design ideas, we have to also convince other people who are not as “design-sensitive,” we’ll say. So we have to find ways in order to communicate our intentions. So the communication of design and color and trim is extremely important.

What does it feel like to see your work come to life?

Fantastic.

The first project you see on the road or in real life is really humbling and exciting at the same time. It gets kind of addictive, I guess, because you really want to keep doing it. You want to make it better, and the next one better. So I think that once you get that opportunity to have something in production and you get to see it, it’s really, really a good feeling.

What do you love most about your job?

Innovation. We’re constantly trying to improve things, trying to find new ideas, find new materials that improve different industries. Because even though I do work in automotive design, I actually worked more in transportation previously, in my design company that I was in when I first started here. I did private jets and concept cars and other automotive projects. It was interesting because of all of the different elements, I love to work on the materials that make things better. Not necessarily just always pretty, but pushing the limits and trying to find just better options altogether.

How do you feel ��ר�� prepared you for your career?

Primarily what ��ר�� has prepared me for, to be very honest, is the ability to give and receive constructive criticism. I was lucky to have really good teachers. I think that giving us constructive criticism, especially in my classes at the time, was really beneficial to accept the fact that you may not always have the best work or you can do better. It’s not like taking a test in math where nobody sees your results except you and the teacher. Everyone sees your results, and everyone has an opinion. It was a good way to be able to understand how to take that criticism in a positive and constructive way.

Learn More about ��ר��’s Programs. →

If you could go back in time and talk to your younger self, what would you say?

In a weird way, I want to say nothing because I am where I am today because of everything that happened, and decisions I’ve made.

I want to say just let it go, just go with the flow. Don’t stress about the little things.

Keep exploring. I would have told myself to keep trying new things.

That’s the advice I would give me … just follow what interests you.

What would you say to either parents or students who are apprehensive about a career in art and design?

I think the creative industry today is in huge demand. If your child has a knack for this type of thing and they feel comfortable in it, and they feel confident in it, then you should let them do it. I think that if your child obviously has an interest in it and does well, and you can tell that they have something that gives them that spark, that that’s the indicator that you need to let them do it. I think that’s actually what my parents kind of accepted. I think they knew that this is something that I really enjoyed and that I was good at. So they said, “Alright, let’s see what happens,” and here I am.

“I am working now at Renault with four of the guys that I started with at that company, they’re now working with me. So we just took a picture together, it was funny, because we’re like, ‘Oh, 19 years ago, we walked in the same room, the same time together.'”

The post Kristine Lipinski (’03 Product Design) appeared first on ��ר��.

��ר�� Launches Practicing Design Center, Dedicating Resources to Nonprofits and Small Businesses

Megan Mesack — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 20:30:25 +0000

Continuing its expansive work serving communities in Detroit and beyond, the ��ר�� Practicing Design Center supports nonprofit organizations through partnerships offering design solutions from ��ר�� faculty and students

The ��ר�� (��ר��) is pleased to announce the launch of its Practicing Design Center, partnering nonprofit and community organizations with ��ר�� students and faculty to tackle community challenges using the transformative power of art and design.

“At ��ר��, our focus on experiential learning and working within our community is of the utmost importance,” said Don Tuski, President, ��ר��. “The Practicing Design Center brings these two initiatives together by pairing the innovative art, design and strategy work students are doing with non-profits and community organizations that offer exciting and challenging opportunities. This expands ��ר��’ impact in the community.”

��ר�� has worked with over 200 organizations through its existing Educational Partnerships program between 2017 and 2024. However, the current partnership model poses financial and capacity barriers for nonprofits and small businesses to participate. Thanks to support from Ford Philanthropy, Gilbert Family Foundation, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, and Detroit Public Library Foundation, ��ר�� has been able to work with nonprofit organizations like C.L.A.S.S. Agency, COTS Detroit, Forgotten Harvest, InsideOut Literary Arts, Life Remodeled, and others.

Learning from those experiences, ��ר�� is organizing its social impact work with students and faculty via the new Practicing Design Center. The center will offer three benefits:

A streamlined process for nonprofits and small businesses to collaborate with ��ר�� students and faculty through classroom projects, design sprints and internship opportunities.
Accessible way for funders and civic leaders to connect their interests to the creative and problem-solving skillsets offered by ��ר�� faculty and students.
Enhanced interdisciplinary opportunities for students to develop comprehensive skill sets through real-world experiences working with nonprofit and entrepreneurial partners.

With support from Ford Philanthropy, the Practicing Design Center is launching its first call for interest for Winter 2025 projects starting on Thursday, September 26, 2024. Interested organizations can complete a brief application form on the . Submitted proposals will be reviewed by a ��ר�� committee and selected based on their alignment with the following criteria: experiential learning and educational value, project impact, project feasibility and scope, partner capacity for support and collaboration, and alignment with College’s mission and principles. Recent examples of ��ר��’s prior social impact work include the following partnerships:

C.L.A.S.S Agency: In the Winter 2024 semester, Undergraduate Interior Design and Graduate-level Color & Materials Design students worked together to develop a comprehensive design for a vacant building that C.L.A.S.S. wants to repurpose for a safe house and resilience hub for youth and young adults. The students created visual assets to help the organization demonstrate a vision for its future.
Life Remodeled and Durfee Innovation Center: In the fall 2020 semester, Communication Design students created brand identity strategies that could function across multiple media platforms in order to meet Life Remodeled’s diverse communication needs and to support the multifaceted nature of the Durfee Innovation Center’s role in Detroit’s west-side neighborhood. Through the Practicing Design Center, ��ר�� will place two students this fall at Life Remodeled to help strengthen their brand as they expand into new programming.

“Since our founding in 2010, Life Remodeled’s neighborhood revitalization work has evolved significantly over our first decade. However, a number of branding challenges remained, and we were unable to afford professional assistance,” said Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled, a ��ר�� nonprofit partner. “Our partnership with ��ר�� Communication Design students was not only a fun process for our team, but the final outcomes were just what we needed.”

“I am ecstatic about the possibilities uncovered by the youth. I am also proud to know that ��ר�� is a gem in the city that anchors an incredible amount of creative genius,” said Dr. Karla Mitchell, Executive Director of C.L.A.S.S. “What the students were able to envision and reimagine after connecting to our mission gives our staff and youth great hope for the kind of community this project will create. The passion and connection to the work that C.L.A.S.S. does was evident at every encounter, every design review and we loved it.”

PRACTICING DESIGN CENTER LAUNCH EVENT

Practicing Design Center launched officially on September 26, 2024 with a pop-up exhibition as part of Detroit Month of Design, The C.L.A.S.S. Project: Transformative Connection with Space and Matter, at the Gensler Detroit office. The exhibition featured design work from ��ר�� students, including Undergraduate Interior Design and Graduate Studies in Color & Materials Design. Students collaborated with C.L.A.S.S. Agency on a project aimed at enhancing systems, environments, and lifestyles of stakeholders through restoration, revitalization, and renewal.

Learn more about the Practicing Design Center here:

The post ��ר�� Launches Practicing Design Center, Dedicating Resources to Nonprofits and Small Businesses appeared first on ��ר��.

Color & Materials Design MA Student Rachel Barker Named Hagopian Rug Design Contest Winner

Megan Mesack — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:13:37 +0000

"For the 35th year in a row, Hagopian family members, ��ר�� staff, and idustrial designer John Kaloustian met to choose the winning designs of the the 35th annual Hagopian World of Rugs / ��ר�� Student Rug Design Competition. The theme of this year’s competition was for students to design an area rug inspired by American art from the 1960’s through the 1980’s."

The post appeared first on ��ר��.

��ר�� Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2023

Megan Mesack — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 18:00:35 +0000

The ��ר�� is pleased to introduce a remarkable group of new faculty members, each bringing their unique expertise and passion to our academic community.

In the Foundations Department, Michelle Lannoo has been promoted from visiting Assistant Professor to full-time Associate Professor. Her dedication and exceptional performance during her initial year have earned her this recognition. Joining her are two more distinguished educators: Joshua Mulligan, who takes on the role of a full-time Drawing Instructor, and Ben Rosales, an accomplished teacher with extensive experience in computer animation, who is joining as full-time Assistant Professor. Additionally, Peter Dunn will serve as the Foundations 3D Design Shop Manager and Assistant Professor, responsible for shop facilities, faculty and student training, and curriculum development.

In the Liberal Arts Department, the College welcomes Myrtle A. Brooks, a Lecturer in Business Studies who brings a wealth of experience and a background in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan Dearborn and MIT. Joining her is Laura Kovick, who assumes the role of a Lecturer in Composition with impressive credentials, including graduate degrees in literature and the teaching of writing and a diverse range of published works. Completing the department’s new additions is Caleb Lalinsky, a Visiting Assistant Professor with expertise in composition, rhetoric, literature, and writing instruction.

In the Art Education Department, Dr. Jhih-yin “Diane” Lee joins ��ר�� as an Assistant Professor. Dr. Lee’s extensive background in art education, teacher certification, and curriculum development, coupled with her Ph.D. in Art/Art Education from the University of Georgia, make her a valuable addition to the department.

Within the Studio Art & Craft Department, the College welcomes Lena Ellis-Boatman, who assumes the role of Visiting Assistant Professor and Section Lead in Printmaking. Ellis-Boatman’s diverse skill set encompasses various art forms and a deep commitment to collaboration, community, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Finally, in the Entertainment Arts Department, Dylan VanWormer joins ��ר�� as a full-time Assistant Professor of Animation, specializing in 3D animation. VanWormer’s extensive experience, including work at Moonbot Studios and Walt Disney Studios, makes him a valuable asset to our animation emphasis.

��ר�� extends a warm welcome to all these talented individuals and looks forward to the significant contributions they will bring to our creative and academic community.

The post ��ר�� Welcomes New Faculty for Fall 2023 appeared first on ��ר��.

Color and Material Design Graduate Students Find Inspiration from Light, Movement and Form with Leon Speakers

Stacy Hutchcraft — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:00:47 +0000

A 10-week sponsored project between Leon Speakers and ��ר�� Color and Materials Design graduate students highlighted the intersection of artistry and design in their effort Sound/Space/Spirits.

Students were challenged to conceptualize a branding strategy through the application of Color and Materials Design to sound (product design), space (interior design) and spirits (packaging design). Designs also included immersive elements of light, movement, form and art.

Leon Speakers, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has been a pioneer of design-driven speakers and technology concealment solutions for over 25 years. Their unique team of artists, designers, engineers, and craftspeople have been meticulously designing and handcrafting their award-winning products with a vision of bringing both better sound and style to every space they touch. The Leon Creative Campus, home to Leon Speakers headquarters and manufacturing facilities, has expanded over the years to include experiential art and performance spaces, Mofi Electronics – maker of custom-design turntables, and new addition to the campus, the Mothfire Brewing Co.

Color and Materials Design Adjunct Faculty, Jennifer Atanasovski, saw the partnership as a unique opportunity for students to explore a wide array of design possibilities with Leon’s brand strategies. “The Leon Speakers and Mothfire Brewing sponsored project was framed in an open, exploratory way. Without a pre-designed product dictating color blocking or material application. It challenged the designers to think conceptually and create a material-led project that would dictate the form language.”

The final projects presented to the Leon Speakers team representatives showcased inspiration from a diverse range of areas. Student Shay Albert pulled elements from nature with his design “CICADA,” a speaker line utilizing the biomimicry of the cicada’s tymbal organ. Fellow Color and Materials Design student Lauren Forgacs’ work “MOTH TO A FLAME: An Exterior and Interior CMF Strategy for Mothfire Brewing Co.,” focused on curated materials centered around the concept of drawing people into an inclusive space through modern art, craft and beer.

“We were so thrilled to be a part of this project,” said Leon founder and Mothfire co-owner Noah Kaplan. “Design drives everything we do across our campus, and materiality is such an important part of that approach. We were so impressed with the creative inspiration and accurate themes the students drew from our products and campus.”

This educational partnership with Leon Speakers was part of a ��ר�� initiative focusing on experiential learning, which assists with the preparation for life after graduation. It provides students with opportunities to gain practical skills through hands-on experiences with faculty, peers, industry, and community partners.

The post Color and Material Design Graduate Students Find Inspiration from Light, Movement and Form with Leon Speakers appeared first on ��ר��.

Color & Materials Design Archives | ����ר��