wwu id

It’s that time of the year♻️! The WWU Industrial Design Junior class are excited to present their handmade, limited-run designs for Remade this year, which will be available at Ideal in downtown Bellingham. Join us on May 29th from 6–9pm for opening night of Remade and discover all the different ways that industrial and commercial waste can be given a new life through design! When: May 29, 6-9pm Where: Ideal, 1227 Cornwall Ave, Bellingham, WA #remade @idealbham @wwuengineering_design @wwu.cse

In Focus: Megan Almquist Hometown: Mahtomedi, MN “Making life easier (and funner!) through product design is what I love to do. I’m driven by little details, strong foundational research, the mechanics of things, and discovering novel functionality. Building things is where I find my flow, so I’ll miss using all the tools we’ve been spoiled with at Western.” Salish Seat: circular bench designed to tolerate the PNW climate. Its unconventional use of marine-grade rope visually draws people in for a moment of rest. Skribbage: A cribbage board made from decommissioned skis sourced from a local ski shop. Nodding at the form of a ski pole, the pegs are 3D printed with recycled ABS. Amtrak Crew Quarters: Current train cars lack the necessary accommodations to account for the physical and emotional demands of being a conductor. This private space is a novel introduction of a designated, function-driven area for conductors to focus and recharge. Meet Megan at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: @megansdesignaccount

In Focus: Noah Weinrich Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana “I approach design as a continual pursuit of discovery: seeking answers that lead to new questions, allowing form to emerge through experimentation, and finding passion in the places I least expect it. The right mindset and the right people make all the difference.” AMTRAK: Exploring immersive, social travel experiences through fast-paced experimentation and refinement in @gravitysketch . Thermometer: Bringing the classic Le Creuset brand DNA to a digital product.  ReMade: Giving production scraps a new life as a set of tactile, delightful, and useful wine glass markers. Meet Noah at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: noahweinrich.com @ngw_design

In Focus: Owen White Hometown: Seattle, WA “My approach to design is rooted in balancing purpose with emotion. Creating products that are thoughtful, intuitive, and meaningful to interact with. I strive to design experiences that not only perform well, but leave a lasting impression through the way they make people feel.” Capstone Project in Progress: An inviting table lamp built around a playful interaction, elevating the atmosphere and experience of dining at home. Amtrak Crew Quarters: Current train cars fail to support conductors’ daily needs. This concept creates a functional, supportive environment, recognizing that a better passenger experience begins with the crew behind it.  Umbra: A tea light holder made from reclaimed expanded steel scraps and salvaged Richlite, casting a gentle, playful illumination through repurposed materials. Deploy: A compact EMT bag designed to centralize essential response items for rapid EMS care, emphasizing ease of carry, fast deployment, clear visibility, and intuitive organization. Meet Owen at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: owenwhite.net @owdsgn

In Focus: Margit Williams Hometown: Kent, Washington “Working with my hands allows me to dive deeper into the design process. Whether I’m sewing up a prototype or getting my hands covered in clay, having physical models adds a level of connection to the design that brings the story behind it to life.” Chuckanut Rocks Sculptures: Inspired by Bellingham’s honeycomb weathered sandstone These sculptures feature three interactive forms for kids to climb on, crawl in, and walk through. Embedded with fossils and tracks, they encourage curiosity and pair with library classes for kids’ scavenger hunts on local geology. Kernn: Chalk bag crocheted from retired climbing rope. This rope is composed of an outer jacket and inner kern (core). The jacket is then stripped away from the core. It is then crocheted into an outer bag, and recycled fabric is sewn together to create the liner. Ceramics: Outside of the ID studio I’ve found a passion for ceramics. Throwing on the wheel allows me to express my creative side in a more sculptural way. Meet Margit at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: margitwilliams.com, @margit_williams_design

In Focus: Kylea Assayag-Nodine Hometown: Decatur, Alabama “I focus on building human-centered systems wrapped in beautiful form language. My work spans disciplines; sustainable design and development, design research, and strategy. I approach problems with a balance of structure and creativity, and I thrive in environments that encourage connection and create tools for change. Most of all, I’m excited to keep learning.” Relevé: An adjustable, high-performance pointe shoe that challenges tradition through integrating material circularity with a molded crumb rubber insole engineered for durability and shock absorption. Le Creuset Thermometer: A concept shaped through the integration of brand strategy and design exploration, using mixed-media ideation to drive distinctive form development. Tribulation - 2026 textiles capstone @wwufiber 29” x 80” IKAT dyed cotton, plain weave Meet Kylea at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: @ayagdine ayagdine.com

In Focus: Michael Quinn Hometown: Nevada City, California “Design has given me the tools to combine lived experiences and problems into tangible, physical solutions. I think that’s awesome.” Amtrak: The communal lounge is a team exploration of spatial design in VR. Community spaces need to be designed by groups of people bumping into each other and @gravitysketch made that possible. Embark: Shoe storage bench made with zero waste CNC cuts on a 4’x8’ sheet of plywood. Seal Pup Seating: Conceptual proposal for @cityofbellingham that invites a playful interaction from seat to table. Swapping between the two keeps surfaces dry and accommodates communal seating and class picnic tables. Meet Michael at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: @michael.ian.quinn michaelianquinn.com

In Focus: Samuel Larsen Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada “My lifelong love of creating and my background in audio engineering influence the way I navigate the design process. I gravitate toward what is fresh, unfamiliar, and timeless. Outside of the design studio you can find me at the gym, writing music, or photographing the city. ” Nike TENS - As part of Nike’s expansion into athletic recovery, this TENS unit is designed to be used during light exercise, delivering light electrical pulses that stimulate muscle development. Amtrak Business - This is part of a project that meets the needs of business class Amtrak travelers through adjustable private seating. Nature Gateway - Designed for a local park, this gateway ushers pedestrians from the urban downtown to a place lush with trees and the sound of rushing water in just a few steps. Meet Samuel at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: @saminthebag @phasecancel samuellarsen.framer.website

In Focus: Michael Dufresne Hometown: Twisp, Washington “I love to explore intersections in design and and figure out how things that seem to oppose each other can work together to form something more than the sum of its parts. I’m excited to keep learning, and keep working with the people around me to make the world a better place; things are just getting started!” Canopy Bench - an exploration of connection, community, sustainability, and how the diverse and often conflicting needs of different groups can find a designed symbiosis. I like to make things // A teaser of some of my projects. Amtrak Business Class - a redesign of the current business class tailored for remote workers, empowering them to do what they need to wherever they want to. Meet Michael at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more here: @mgdfrn mgdfrn.com

In Focus: Hadrian Morris-Downing Hometown: Iowa City, Iowa “Hands-on design exploration and play motivates much of my work. I love approaching design from a physical perspective, where making and exploring in 3D are central parts of my design process.” Fiver is a toy designed to fit together to explore stacking and balance to develop fine motor skills. The friendly abstracted rabbit silhouettes are designed to encourage play at any age.  Fiver is made from high quality hard wood off cuts from local artisans and sealed with a natural finish.   Kebo is an auto injector designed to make self administered injections safer, cleaner and more comfortable for those who have to do them on a regular basis. This project focused heavily on molding to find a form that would make the experience easier for the user.  The Amtrak Observation car was a group project supported by Teague exploring how we could make a journey better than the destination. The group focused on an observation deck that would be perfect for group travelers. Shown is a model created to help communicate the design and explore the space.   Meet Hadrian at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more: @mdhadrian hadriandesigns.com

In Focus: Yoshihiro Hose Hometown: Kirkland, Washington “I find motivation in the physical world, the objects and environments that shape daily life. As an industrial designer, l aim to create products that feel purposeful, durable, and efficient to manufacture. My focus is on crafting objects that bring visual and tactile satisfaction while elevating everyday experiences through thoughtful form and material choices.” Nike JOLT: post-workout muscle recovery solution that combines advanced technology with a sleek design. Orbital Frames: Concept exploring potential applications of single-part metal 3D printing for sports eyewear. Atlas: Electric motor scooter concept exploring applications of sheet-tube-hydro forming. Meet Yoshi at the WWU ID Senior Show on June 4th, 5-8pm at Tactile. Professionals only, stay tuned for the WWU open house. See more: @art.hiro @id.hiro Yoshihose.com

Under ONE MONTH until the 2026 Senior Exhibition, here’s a project in focus. In collaboration with guest instructor Sarah Serpanos (WWU ID alum + Technical Designer at Teague), the WWU Industrial Design senior class reimagined long-haul rail through spatial design via augmented reality and large scale prototyping, and brand identity, crafting journeys designed to be better than the destination. Working in teams of three, designers identified and redesigned key pain points across the travel experience to deliver a cohesive, elevated vision for modern rail. Join us June 4th, 5–8 PM at Tactile to experience the full project and more. @idsa_seattle @tactiledesign @teague1926