"Attending the Housewares Show in 2003 gave me real insight into professional industry. As a student designer, it was so encouraging to be recognized for a product concept that addressed accessibility issues for wheelchair users. While still in school, I applied for my first and only ID position with nothing but my housewares design project--it worked, I'm still here! "

Joni Saylor
IBM Industrial Design
2003 Second Place, Arizona State University

 

"The Housewares Show was the icing on the cake, regarding my college career. It gave me the opportunity to display the talents and perspectives I'd gained over 5 years of class work and internships to perspective employers, clients and peers. Ultimately, my participation at IHA directly led to my first full-time position at one of the world's top design firms (IDEO). The Show is a great barometer for young design talent. I would encourage any student looking for exposure and experience to enter a concept and visit the Show."

Geoffrey Baldwin
Lunar
2006 Second Place, University of Cincinnati

 

"Congratulations on 18 years and going strong!  I have to say that in many ways winning the first prize at the NHMA Student design competition was a great start in my career.  At the moment the newness and excitement of being at the Show was a great reward for the effort I put into this competition but what I did not know then was the long term impact on my career. I met people whom I am still friends with and have cultivated relationships with people that today are clients.  In many ways Ii opened doors to an exciting future doing what I love:  design."

Manuel Saez
Manuel Saez, Ltd.
2000 First Place, University of Bridgeport

 

"As a student, winning the competition was so important because it gave me exposure to thousands of industry professionals at the Housewares Show, and many more in the publications I was featured in.  I was able to get feedback on my design and some job and internship leads.  Many people were interested in manufacturing my product.

Now that my product has been commercialized, I am collecting royalty checks every quarter.  That extra income really helps now that I am in graduate school and on a fixed income.

It has all come full-circle, now that I instruct students and judge the competition.  I feel that I have a unique perspective on the entire process.  I believe that the key to winning is being able to prove that your concept is based on a real problem and that your solution is unique and well thought-out. 

The International Housewares Association Student Design Competition is the most important competition that students participate in during their undergraduate studies.  It can launch careers."

Michael Elwell
University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign student and instructor
2005 Third Place winner, University of Notre Dame

 

"It was an honor and exciting to receive the award. To be honest I was not enthusiastic to work on a housewares project at the time (I had a bit of a cynical and idealistic streak for a while in college) but I did take the design task seriously. Winning the award changed my attitude. It was an honor to be recognized by my peers, industry professionals and the faculty at the college( I was invited to speak to foundation level design students about the ID program) I also grew into a bit of a leadership role as well. I organized a trip to a regional IDSA conference in Chicago as well as a gallery show at KU featuring work by the ID department. The award and my project, in large part enabled me to get hired by Ziba Design, one of the preeminent design firms on the west coast.  As an educator I continue to draw on that experience and exposure and encourage my students to pursue design competitions as a means of building a portfolio."

Patrick Myers
Industrial Design Shop Supervisor Adjunct Faculty, The Art Institute of Portland
1997 First Place, University of Kansas