After submitting their designs to the national 20th Annual Student Design Competition, Ohio State industrial design students placed in four of the 11 student category awards. Yutong Wu was awarded second place, with a $2,000 cash prize. Yunqi Yuan was awarded third place, with a $1,000 cash prize. Morgan Perry and Justin Bechstein received honorable mentions and $250 cash prizes. The students, all juniors, will attend the 2013 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago on March 2-5 to present their winning designs. According to the International Housewares Association, sponsor of the competition, Ohio State produced more winners than any other school this year.

The four students dedicated their autumn semester design studio course with Associate Professor Scott Shim to their projects for the competition. They identified problems faced by consumers and then used a holistic approach to design solutions. “Students were also exposed to various methods that enabled them to empathize with their audience and offer a creative solution in context,” Shim said.

Yutong Wu, a native of Suzhou, China, designed the Dolly+ Cart, a versatile dolly that can transport packages in its two-wheeled position or in its extended four-wheeled position. Targeted toward females in work environments, the Dolly+ is easier and more comfortable to maneuver than standard carts and moves more quietly.

For Wu, whose goal is to design cars, this award is the first step to achieving his dreams. “I now know what I’m capable of and I will keep working hard so that I continue to get better,” he said.

Yunqi Yuan, originally from Shanghai, China, designed the Bella Maternity Posture Support. The Bella is a belt and strap device that helps pregnant women maintain healthy posture and supports the growing belly. Inspired by prenatal yoga, the Bella is a healthy non-medical choice for pain relief as its soft and gentle straps shift the weight to relieve or prevent lower back and hip joint pain.

By Marissa Pacheco, editorial intern at ASC Communications