Students are the future of design and innovation. For a second year, The Spearhead Group is proud to announce an exclusive sponsorship of an innovative program with the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) Turin in Italy. The 2021 program features a creative upcycling and reuse element of PVC rods recovered from industrial processes. This Spring, students were briefed on the program by the Spearhead Group, challenging them to create and design objects, products, or accessories using rods along with only common and accessible materials.
“This program allows us to work closely with IED Turin and the students to provide a challenge that can inspire innovation from a brand-new perspective. Adding in the elements of re-use to the program this year allows students to study new ways to look at production dunnage,” says Robert Catalano, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of The Spearhead Group. “Students are our future, and we want to invest in them. The European Institute of Design is a dynamic global partner that allows our team to work together with the next generation of great designers and innovators.”
The selected participants are six teams of two students that have been selected from the Product Design and Jewelry & Accessories Design courses at IED Turin. By utilizing between 50 to 200 rods per or team, the students must create images/drawings of the proposed idea or product, a physical product, and a simple video showing the design concept, solution, and instructions for step-by-step production of the new product. Students will have access to an on-site teacher and a tutor for graphic design supervision and video realization. This participation is part of an extracurricular program for these students and will be completed during their own time. With the COVID restrictions, students are able to schedule lab days on the campus to complete these projects, while still maintaining protocols.
Students will be judged on the overall design, functionality, and innovative thinking. The winning designer will receive a cash prize and a possible Internship in virtual design through Spearhead’s U.S. Innovation Centers. Students will present their ideas at the end of May 2021 to Heather Fritzsche, Robert Catalano Natale Bauducco, and Giovanna Pinna.
“We’re are thrilled to work together again with IED Turin,” adds Natale Bauducco, European Advisor for The Spearhead Group and one of the project leaders. “We can’t wait to unveil the innovative designs later this year and look forward to an ongoing collaboration with the best and brightest students in design.”
About Istituto Europeo di Design (IED)
For more than fifty years, the Istituto Europeo di Design (IED) has been operating in the fields of education and research in design, fashion, visual communication, and management. Today, the IED is a constantly expanding international network that awards academic achievement diplomas and organizes Master’s courses, continuing professional education, and advanced training. Originally founded in Italy, the IED is based globally in Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence, Venice, Cagliari, Como, Madrid, Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Coursework is taught by leading design faculty with a respect for applied skills, constant innovation, and environmental sustainability. The IED-Turin school is known for a cross-disciplinary approach from filmmaking and fashion to communications, industrial design, visual arts, and humanities.