Dezeen School Shows: sustainable footwear made with tulip poplar offcuts and recycled wool is among the projects from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Also featured is a wearable device that monitors users' health at festivals and a floor lamp that uses projections to transform a room's atmosphere.

Georgia Institute of Technology

Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
School: School of Industrial Design
Courses: Health Design Studio, Industrial Design and Engineering Studio, Fundamentals of Industrial Design, Interactive Product Studio, Industrial Design Studio II, Product Development and Innovation Studio II, Interactive Product Design Studio II and Make 10
Tutors:  Kimberly Snyder, Thomas Clifton, Herb Velazquez, Kevin Shankwiler, Noah Posner, Wayne Li, Kimberly Snyder, David Lynn, Steve Chininis and John White

School statement:

"The School of Industrial Design distinguishes itself through its commitment to the human condition and its multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving.

"Our undergraduate programme offers a well-rounded and advanced course of study with a focus on human-centred design, critical thinking, design innovation and entrepreneurship.

"As one of the largest industrial design programmes in the USA, we offer four studio themes specialising in product development and innovation, health and well-being, interactive product design and user experience and UI.

"Students in our studios take on the challenge of identifying new markets and applications for innovative products and services.

"Students apply skills in visual language and branding, process understanding and trends, advanced materials and user research to address complex products, such as medical kiosk systems, electric bicycles, digital environmental systems, consumer goods and robotic platforms.

"They work with a combination of analogue and digital tools, prototyping in VR, Tangible Augmented Reality (TAR) and physical media to develop novel and detailed product designs.

"Additionally, our students can collaborate with others across campus – including mechanical, electrical and biomedical engineering and business – to strengthen and contribute to the amazing work produced institute-wide, making us one of the leading programmes in the USA."

 Calyx by Gregory Lown 

"This occasional side table is designed to support cascading botanical arrangements while functioning as a display surface in modern home interior spaces.

"The table provides a healthy living environment for four-and-a-half-inch potted plants. Inspired by the botanical calyx – the structure that supports and protects a flower bud – the opening allows for more convenient and thorough watering."

Student: Gregory Lown
Course: Industrial Design Studio II
Tutor: Kimberly Snyder
Email: glown3[at]gatech.edu

 Verity: A Visual Compensation System for Flat-Light Conditions in Skiing by Han-Chi Chang, Yifan Hou, Aolei Li and Boyu Shan

"This ski goggle concept was developed for flat-light conditions, where terrain remains visible but depth and distance perception become unreliable.

"Rather than treating the problem as one of visibility, the project reframes it as a failure in the skier's ability to trust their own perception.

"Existing solutions often rely on stronger tints, increased contrast or visual overlays, yet these approaches can amplify visual noise and cognitive load without restoring accurate terrain judgment.

"Verity proposes a perceptual compensation system that allows skiers to adapt to changing visual conditions while maintaining confidence in their own perception.

"The project explores how wearable technology can support human judgment rather than replace it."

Students: Han-Chi Chang, Yifan Hou, Aolei Li and Boyu Shan
Course: Interactive Product Studio
Tutor: John White
Emails: hchang2000[at]outlook.com, Yhou81[at]gatech.edu, Ali646[at]gatech.edu and bshan30[at]gatech.edu

UnStationery by Claire Schie

"Many people want to journal but struggle to find the time, place or motivation to sit down and write. UnStationery was created to challenge the idea that journaling belongs at a desk.

"Inspired by carrying a notebook everywhere and writing during small moments of downtime, the project reimagines the journal as a piece of everyday carry.

"A durable aluminium cover, integrated pen closure and carabiner attachment make it easy to access and use anywhere.

"Designed for travellers, adventurers and creatives alike, the product helps users capture ideas and memories the moment they happen."

Student: Claire Schie
Course: Make 10
Tutor: Steve Chininis
Email: claireschie[at]gmail.com

 Daydreamr by Vu Ly

"This project reimagines how floor lighting can change the ambience of a space beyond colour, brightness and diffusion by casting light sourced from distant scenes.

"Visions of window blinds at golden hour, spring branches in bloom and sunlight beneath the waves create a new context for a space: in a different place and at a different time.

"A bold red accent highlights the points of interaction – focus adjusted with a pinch, angle with a pull and mode with a spin. These elements reduce frustration and champion intuitive engagement."

Student: Vu Ly
Course: Industrial Design Studio II
Tutor: Thomas Clifton
Email: jly37[at]gatech.edu

Sentinel by Grace Tseng, Adam Saint-Jacques, Sabah Ferdowsi Saba, Owen Ho and Zac Campbell

"This Augmented Reality (AR) optical device, designed for road cyclists, aims to increase the rider's safety while positively influencing the road cycling experience.

"For avid senior road cyclists aged 55 and above who seek to enhance their sense of safety and community, the device combines hazard detection with community-connection features to create the feeling of riding together safely.

"Its multi-faceted detection system keeps riders alert to other cyclists in their area as well as hazards both visible and out of sight.

"Important information is quickly delivered to the rider without impacting their direct vision, ensuring a safer and more engaged riding experience"

Students: Grace Tseng, Adam Saint-Jacques, Sabah Ferdowsi Saba, Owen Ho and Zac Campbell
Course: Industrial Design and Engineering Studio
Tutor: Wayne Li

I'm Lovin' It by Olivia Chan, Manuel Fernandez, Tanaya Kasliwal, and Anna Kate Mattingly

"This project reimagines the welcome experience at Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlanta, USA, transforming a stressful arrival into a moment of decompression.

"Designed around biophilic principles, immersive play and a custom Warm Welcome Kit, the experience helps caregivers pause and regain focus during their child's medical journey.

"A biophilic welcome space within each family room offers a calming, non-intrusive environment for rest, while the Warm Welcome Kit pairs a comforting beverage with an engaging activity to reduce stress and improve retention.

"For children, a Projection Playmat and Transparent Display create opportunities for safe, joyful play, offering moments of comfort and normalcy during their stay."

Students: Olivia Chan, Manuel Fernandez, Tanaya Kasliwal and Anna Kate Mattingly
Course: Interactive Product Design Studio II
Tutor: Noah Posner
Emails: o.cbusiness72921[at]gmail.com, mfernandez200410[at]gmail.com, tanayakasliwal[at]gmail.com and akm2943[at]icloud.com

 Kanga Bicycle by Roberto Ponte, Emily Zhang and Youjin Chung

"This gravel bike is designed for amateur competitive riders navigating long distances and unpredictable terrain.

"Three persistent challenges were identified through firsthand experience and rider interviews: physical discomfort, navigational uncertainty and limited adaptability within race conditions.

"Kanga Bicycle addresses these through an integrated system of support, including a reimagined handlebar with a continuous ergonomic interface, which enables multiple grip positions and a stable aero tuck.

"A glass fibre composite leaf-spring suspension system and controlled frame flex smooth vibration without added complexity.

"In-frame storage and an elevated navigation zone allow riders to access essentials and maintain awareness without breaking momentum."

Students: Roberto Ponte, Emily Zhang and Youjin Chung
Course: Product Development and Innovation Studio II
Tutor: Kevin Shankwiler
Email: kshankwiler[at]gatech.edu

Sight by Madison McPeters, Roberto Ponte, Luke Rendel, Hannah Clay, Marissa Reichelscheimer and Miller DeVane

"This project addresses the lack of accessible optometry in rural Guatemala, offering children an all-in-one eyewear solution, which utilises a self-adjustable Alvarez lens mechanism.

"With their parents' help, children in these communities can self-prescribe and correct impaired vision using these adjustable eyeglasses."

Students: Madison McPeters, Roberto Ponte, Luke Rendel, Hannah Clay, Marissa Reichelscheimer and Miller DeVane
Course: Industrial Design and Engineering Studio
Tutor: Wayne Li

 FlowState by Flynn Coyne 

"High-energy social environments such as festivals present hidden health risks, where dense, fast-moving crowds make it difficult to spot early warning signs of dehydration or overheating.

"FlowState bridges personal health monitoring and nightlife safety through a discreet, proactive wearable system.

"Evaluating emerging platforms such as ink-based tattoo sensors and electronic skin, the project explores how non-invasive biosensors can track hydration, blood alcohol concentration and blood oxygen levels outside clinical settings.

"Tailored for high-energy contexts, this user-centred design delivers intuitive, real-time alerts before health metrics reach critical thresholds, empowering individuals with greater body awareness and helping event organisers enhance public safety."

Student: Flynn Coyne
Course: Health Design Studio
Tutor: Herb Velazquez
Email: fcoyne3[at]gatech.edu

 Tulip by Zoe Mocklar

"Tulip is sustainable footwear for women in the professional world.

"Built to last, the timeless silhouette is designed to be comfortable and distinctive, featuring charming stitching and a heel ventilation gap.

“Beginning with research, sketching and a deep dive into ergonomics, the project aims to create something timeless both in its style and lifecycle.

"The sole of the shoe, which is crafted from tulip poplar offcuts, is engineered to roll with the foot, providing ergonomic comfort in motion.

"The exterior of the shoe is crafted from recycled wool, stabilised with vertical cotton stitching and lined with reclaimed cotton.

"By utilising biodegradable adhesives, the shoes can decompose after their lifecycle reaches the end."

Student: Zoe Mocklar
Course: Fundamentals of Industrial Design
Tutors: Kimberly Snyder and David Lynn
Email: zmocklar3[at]gatech.edu

Partnership content

This school show is a partnership between Dezeen and Georgia Institute of Technology. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.