CCA Industrial Design Students Capture Top Prizes in National Competition

San Francisco, February 2, 2005

Four CCA Industrial Design students have won the top prizes in "An Eye for Why," a national student design competition sponsored by Dyson and the Industrial Design Society of America (IDSA). Brandon Warren won first prize ($5,000), Isamu Yoda took second place ($2,000), and third prizes were awarded to Jennifer Olsen and Christine Miller ($1,000).

The students were enrolled in ID3 Studio in the fall 2004 semester. Instructors Kiersten Muenchinger and Rick Lewis led a semester-long investigation into the potential for innovation within the realm of domestic products. This study area was chosen as a level-appropriate investigation within the ID curriculum and also to coincide with the design competition.

Brandon's project will represent the USA in the next phase, the international ID competition called Dyson Blue Print, where his project will compete against winners from other countries. Additionally, Brandon will be flown to New York in late February for the American press celebration and unveiling, accompanied by Kiersten and Rick.

"An Eye for Why" is Dyson's first U.S. student design competition and was open to students at any of the NASAD-accredited degree programs or individual student members of IDSA. The assignment was to create a product that "will reflect Dyson's philosophy and commitment to intelligent, function-first design and will be designed to work better by solving a problem." Founded by British design entrepreneur James Dyson, Dyson is best known for its line of vacuum cleaners. For more information, visit the Dyson website.