During the Fall semester, the 黑料专区 hosted 13 educational partnerships, including a diverse range of sponsored projects and competitions that engaged a variety of academic departments. Students partnered with local and global brands and Detroit community non-profits to work on projects tailored to meet the needs of our partners. Educational partnerships at 黑料专区 are highly conceptual and allow 黑料专区 students the opportunity to participate in creative, research-based assignments, interacting with designers and staff from the collaborating partners. Highlighted collaborations during the Fall semester include:

• American Chemistry Council – Plastics Division x Transportation Design
• Bedrock x Communication Design and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Art and Design, Interior Design and Fashion Design
• BRP International Design Challenge x Transportation Design
• DSC Design Sprint x Product Design
• Foley & Lardner LLP x Illustration
• Ford Motor Company x Transportation Design & Graduate Color and Materials Design
• Gardner White x Communication Design and Strategy
• Hagopian x 黑料专区
• Movement Festival x Communication Design & Strategy
• New Balance x Product Design and Graduate Color and Materials Design
• Stafford House x Interior Design
• Stellantis x Transportation Design
• Urban Electronic, Inc. x Entertainment Arts

鈥淧artnering with the 黑料专区 during the holiday season on Windows on Woodward provided the opportunity to support emerging creative talent while strengthening connections between our downtown retailers and Detroit鈥檚 vibrant arts community,鈥� said Francesca Eid, Bedrock Vice President, Experience. 鈥淚nitiatives like this allow students to bring their creative ideas to life while contributing to the energy and spirit of the Lower Woodward corridor. We value these collaborations with local institutions and civic partners as an important way to nurture the next generation of creatives as they help shape Detroit鈥檚 future.鈥�

鈥淲indows on Woodward is where imagination, craftsmanship and creativity meet community,鈥� said Rhonda Rouse, Senior Manager, Tenant Experience at Bedrock. 鈥淎s part of the holiday season in downtown, our festive, walkable window showcase amplifies Detroit鈥檚 next generation of talent as they shape the city鈥檚 future.鈥�

鈥淭his project gave our students invaluable hands-on experience in design collaboration, project management, and fabrication,鈥� said Shannon McPartlon, Executive Director of The Office of Partnerships at 黑料专区. 鈥淲e are grateful to Bedrock for their partnership and the opportunity to be part of this historic moment. The results are truly representative of what 黑料专区 students are capable of achieving when they apply their talents to a real-world, high-profile challenge.”

Participating Students:
Isabella Avila-Recillas (Interdisciplinary Art and Design)
Levi Mooney (Interdisciplinary Art and Design)
Autumn English (Interior Design)
Katelyn Welchko (Interdisciplinary Art and Design)
Brandi Witek (Communication Design & Strategy)
Miracle Hubbard-Wray (Interior Design)
Griffin Mesner (Fashion Accessory Design)
Olivia Draus (Interdisciplinary Art and Design)

Located in the heart of midtown Detroit, 黑料专区鈥檚 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, 黑料专区 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鈥檚 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.聽

Here鈥檚 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

黑料专区 alumna Elizabeth Salonen made waves at NeoCon 2025, partnering with Bernhardt Design to create a captivating experience in their showroom, Space 320 at The Mart. Salonen, a distinguished multidisciplinary artist-designer, has unveiled “Meditations on Canvas,” a series of seven meticulously hand-stitched large-scale works that truly embody her unique Finnish design ethos: functional beauty intertwined with a deep connection to materiality.

Salonen’s creative journey is extensive. She founded Mottoform, her design studio, in Helsinki in 2005, later moving its base to Ontario, Canada. Her expertise spans a wide array of disciplines, from product design, ceramics, and textiles to interiors, lighting, and the crafting of collectible art and objects.

Her innovative work has garnered international acclaim, including the prestigious honor of being named Industrial Designer of the Year in Finland in 2012. She graduated from 黑料专区 with a degree in Industrial Design.

Karlee Szczesniak (Interior Design, 鈥�25) was awarded a $30,000 Angelo Donghia Foundation scholarship for a project completed during her Junior Independent Study course.

While completing her second internship with Walt Disney Imagineering in Orlando, Florida, Karlee received the news of a lifetime. Her father called her from their home in Michigan to let her know she received a letter from the Angelo Donghia Foundation. 鈥�Immediately, I was filled with both excitement and fear, knowing this letter had the potential to change my future,鈥� Karlee said. She asked him to open it and read it to her. At that moment he let her know that she was one of only fifteen scholarship recipients chosen this year.聽

鈥淚 was overwhelmed with emotion. I knew at that moment all of the stress, sleepless nights, and passion I poured into the project were undoubtedly worth it. To know that the judges found my work worthy of such a prestigious award was the greatest affirmation of my growth and confidence as a designer.鈥�

The Angelo Donghia Foundation was established by the late Angelo Donghia, an internationally recognized design icon. The Foundation focuses on the advancement of education in the field of interior design. For more than 20 years, they have awarded senior student scholarship awards to benefit deserving students entering their last year in a baccalaureate degree program in interior design at accredited universities, colleges, and schools.聽

Karlee鈥檚 winning project, The Wave Hub is a surfboard and apparel company dedicated to sustainability and ocean cleanup. The inclusive design embraces neurodiverse individuals in their workplace through the areas of concentration, collaboration, and comfort zones to create a sense of belonging. The Hub integrates LEED-certified materials and natural elements like sunlight and clean air to enhance physical and mental health.

鈥淜arlee has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to her design process. She is highly attentive to feedback, applying it diligently to enhance the discipline of her projects through each iteration,鈥� said Sandra Olave, Chair of Interior Design. 鈥淪he has a firm grasp of human-centered design as evident in her work, as she develops innovative solutions and keenly understands and highlights the profound impact these solutions have. This award is a testament to her dedication, skill, and insight.鈥�

Karlee is open about her past struggles with confidence and finding her place in the vast interior design field. She believes this scholarship award has given her the boost of confidence she needed going into her senior year. 鈥淩eceiving this scholarship has given me a new sense of self-assurance, and it has allowed me to focus on how I can push myself to the next level as a designer.鈥�

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

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

鈥淎t 黑料专区, our focus on experiential learning and working within our community is of the utmost importance,鈥� said Don Tuski, President, 黑料专区. 鈥淭he 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 黑料专区鈥� impact in the community.鈥澛犅�

黑料专区 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, 黑料专区 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, 黑料专区 is organizing its social impact work with students and faculty via the new Practicing Design Center. The center will offer three benefits:聽

• A streamlined process for nonprofits and small businesses to collaborate with 黑料专区 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 黑料专区 faculty and students.聽
• 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 黑料专区 committee and selected based on their alignment with the following criteria: experiential learning and educational value, project impact,聽 project feasibility and scope,聽 partner capacity for support and collaboration, and alignment with College鈥檚 mission and principles. Recent examples of 黑料专区鈥檚 prior social impact work include the following partnerships:聽

• C.L.A.S.S Agency:聽 In the Winter 2024 semester,聽 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鈥檚 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, 黑料专区 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,鈥� said Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled, a 黑料专区 nonprofit partner. 鈥淥ur partnership with 黑料专区 Communication Design students was not only a fun process for our team, but the final outcomes were just what we needed.”

鈥淚 am ecstatic about the possibilities uncovered by the youth. I am also proud to know that 黑料专区 is a gem in the city that anchors an incredible amount of creative genius,鈥� said Dr. Karla Mitchell, Executive Director of C.L.A.S.S. 鈥淲hat 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.鈥�

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 黑料专区 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:

Designing for regeneration, restoring ecosystems, renewing communities, emphasizing sustainability and the potential to inspire positive growth.

During the Winter semester, undergraduate Interior Design聽and graduate Color & Materials Design students at the 黑料专区 (黑料专区) collaborated on a large-scale sponsored project with the Detroit nonprofit, (the C.L.A.S.S. Agency).聽

For 20 years, the C.L.A.S.S. Agency has supported outpatient treatment for adults, teens, and children living in the 48219 zip code and its neighboring communities providing vital prevention, intervention, and substance use disorder treatment. Their mission is to provide strategies and treatment services for families focusing on improving quality of life.聽

Dr. Karla Mitchell, executive director of C.L.A.S.S., explains that understanding the CDC’s Distressed Communities Index is crucial to grasping the necessity of C.L.A.S.S. in Detroit. The index provides a detailed view of economic well-being at the zip code level, highlighting widespread distress across the city. She also notes that their office location is among the areas most affected by suspected opioid overdoses, closely correlating with the index’s measures of social vulnerability.

For Dr. Mitchell, the nonprofit鈥檚 mission is deeply personal.

鈥�Both of my parents had addictions. I recall there being no support for the children and families in a system of services with diminished access and quality. I have an understanding of how support for youth impacted by trauma, distress and social vulnerability should look.”

A newly acquired residential property will serve as the nonprofit鈥檚 safe haven for prevention, intervention, and substance use disorder treatment for adults and children. 黑料专区 students worked closely with C.L.A.S.S. to design their new headquarters.聽

The design brief required students to design for regeneration with a focus on actively restoring and renewing ecosystems, communities, or cultural aspects to enhance health and vitality. The aim was to improve overall well-being by emphasizing sustainable practices, mindful materials, and increased capacity for positive development.聽

Through in-depth interviews, field research, and creative collaboration, 黑料专区 students created final projects that put the needs of the nonprofit鈥檚 at-risk community first.聽

In The Third Space by Caden Musa (Interior Design), Dalaa Kain (Interior Design), Tanaya Kotasthane (MFA Color & Materials Design), and Tanushka Karwa (MFA Color & Materials Design) the group took a residential design approach to the project brief, creating a space that feels like home. While Bridge to Belonging by Laura Lin (MFA Color & Materials Design), Yasmin Childs (Interior Design), and Alejandra Casta帽eda Gomez (Interior Design; exchange student from Spain) focused on interconnectivity through themes of nature and play that encouraged a greater sense of belonging and ownership among visitors.

Each of the final six group projects presented left C.L.A.S.S. incredibly impressed.聽

鈥�I am ecstatic about the possibilities uncovered by the youth. I am also proud to know that 黑料专区 is a gem in the city that anchors an incredible amount of creative genius,鈥� said Dr. Mitchell. 鈥淲hat 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.鈥澛�

Chair of Interior Design, Sandra Olave, was thrilled with the students’ final outcomes. 鈥淭his sponsored project was notable for its strong focus on human-centric design. Working with C.L.A.S.S. and Dr. Mitchell greatly contributed to this emphasis, enabling our students to develop empathy for real-life scenarios encountered in day-to-day experience design.鈥澛�

Speaking to the caliber of work, one group of students was selected to present their final project at Milan Design Week, the preeminent global design fair. Yostina Kaoud (MFA Color & Materials Design), An Luu (Interior Design), Yuya Cheng (MFA Color & Materials Design), and Yasmeen Khalifa (Interior Design) had the opportunity to display and present their final project, Sight to Self, at the design fair in May with over 360,000 visitors in attendance.聽

Color & Materials Design chair, Melanie McClintock, felt student participation in Milan Design Week was a bonus. She emphasized the outstanding work completed by all of the students, which she credits not only to the students but also to Dr. Mitchell鈥檚 passion for C.L.A.S.S. 鈥淭his was the first time our department has participated in a community-focused project working directly with a local non-profit. Collaborating with Dr. Mitchell and the C.L.A.S.S. team was such a positive and enriching experience 鈥� so grounded in a collective desire to do good,鈥� said McClintock. 鈥淭he outcomes of the projects were incredibly thoughtful, intentionally created with deep consideration for the client and the community. I was really impressed with the level of empathy, dedication, collaboration, and engagement from the students, which was a reflection of their passion for the project.鈥�

As for the future of C.L.A.S.S., Dr. Mitchell hopes to break more boundaries and expand care.聽

鈥�We look to expand our direct services to include Integrative Behavioral Health, Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient for youth and young adults 鈥� in a way that does not feel like institutionalized care to those we serve.鈥�

The final projects will be presented this fall during Detroit鈥檚 , where this year鈥檚 theme, Creative Currents, pays tribute to the city鈥檚 unique legacy of artistry and innovation while emphasizing the importance of collaboration and collective action.聽

This project was funded by the new Practicing Design Center at 黑料专区 鈥� a dynamic hub where partner organizations receive top-tier design support, students gain immersive, hands-on skills, and the community benefits from enhanced collaboration.

A contingent of three departments from the 黑料专区 participated in the prestigious Salone del Mobile Milano 2024.

The is widely recognized as the preeminent global design fair. This year was a standout year with over 360,000 visitors, 1,950 exhibitors from 35 countries and over 5,500 accredited journalists in attendance. Participating departments were undergraduate Interior Design, undergraduate Communication Design and graduate Color & Materials Design.

鈥淏eing able to take a team of students to showcase their student work at Milan Design Week was an opportunity for us to shine a light on their exceptional work, our community and Detroit.鈥�

鈥� Melanie McClintock, Chair of Color & Materials Design

Explore the Projects

“Having my work shown in Milan Design Week felt so unreal, but I also felt so proud of my team. We all worked extremely hard, for many long hours, days and weeks to make sure our project was perfect.”

鈥� Yostina Kaoud ’24, Color & Materials Design

In what was once home to the historic Carminati Toselli factory for tram and railway rolling stock, the Fabbrica del Vapore showcased undergraduate 黑料专区 Communication Design student work during the INTERDEPENDENCE international exhibition. As part of the larger Milan Design Week, INTERDEPENDENCE reflected relationships connecting projects of students with those of 50 international design schools. Four of these projects were from 黑料专区 Communication Design students: Luke Fabricatore, Rebecca Hernandez, Yasmin Ali, Madi Ritemburg and Lucy VanEerde. Their projects explored concepts in reframing immigrants through an immigrant lens, a first generation social advocate experience and empowering Native people to reclaim their history.

Also participating in Salone del Mobile, undergraduate Interior Design and graduate Color & Materials Design students were one of only six international design schools asked to participate in the six-day UNFOLD exhibition hosted by . UNFOLD showcased design prototypes addressing crucial global challenges through design as a problem-solving discipline and as a form of communication. 黑料专区 students Yostina Kaoud (MFA Color & Materials Design), An Luu (BFA Interior Design), Yuya Cheng (MFA Color & Materials Design) and Yasmeen Khalifa (BFA Interior Design) were in attendance and presented their work from a Winter sponsored project with the local Detroit non-profit (the C.L.A.S.S. Agency). C.L.A.S.S. asked students to create an environment that promotes a safe space, holistic healing and transformation for a newly acquired residential property that will serve as a safe haven for prevention, intervention and substance use disorder treatment for both adults and children.

“It was an honor to bring both 黑料专区 and C.L.A.S.S. Agency to an international viewpoint. So thankful to showcase our group’s work and passion 鈥� it was overwhelming in the best way possible. It provided a space with new ideas and new horizons where I was able to talk and learn with fellow students and schools from all over the globe.”

鈥� Yasmeen Khalifa ’25, Interior Design

黑料专区 Student Work at Milan Design Week

鈥満诹献�区 has been working for years to involve students in Milan Design Week. The opportunity to be the only U.S. college invited to participate in the Domus Academy exhibit was exceptional and one I will not forget.”

鈥� Sandra Olave, Chair of Interior Design

Interior Design

Learn more about the 黑料专区 Interior Design program.

Color & Material Design

Learn more about the 黑料专区 Color & Materials Design program.

Communication Design

ReFraming Immigrants Through an Immigrant Lens

“I’m American Too”, uses the negative associations of immigrants in America in order to flip this narrative as a positive, humanistic and more accurate way. The challenge was to move beyond stereotypes in order to celebrate America’s rich history of created by immigrants.

The rise of branding in America has contributed to an identity crisis, highlighting the nation’s imperfect history and its complex role as a perceived leader on the global stage. While our country has always been flawed, it was once seen as a beacon of ideals to emulate. Consequently, we constructed a brand around this image, whether rooted in reality or myth, which now shapes individual perceptions and relationships with our national identity.

Rebecca Hernandez聽’20

Learn more about the 黑料专区 Communication Design program.