Sponsored by Eastman
Chemical Company, more than 20 Industrial/Furniture design students from
Appalachian State taught by Kern Maass and Richard Prisco are getting first-hand
experience working with Eastman's new innovative product, Perennial Wood™.
Students have been given opportunities to interact with the wood and ask questions of product experts. After receiving a supply of Perennial Wood, the design students have been divided into seven teams to research and present a specific aspect of the wood such as its machinability, lamination, steam bending and more.
Following the research, each
student will use his or her findings to design and construct a piece of outdoor
furniture. During the duration of the course, students will be responsible for
developing concepts through sketches and models to produce a final design.
Several students will be picked to display their furniture design at the 2012 High Point Furniture Market, the world’s largest furnishing industry trade show, April 21-26 in
High Point, N.C.
Collaborating with Eastman and working with a new innovative product, Perennial Wood, will provide these Appalachian design students an opportunity of a lifetime.
“They are gaining invaluable experience doing real world design that involves interacting with professionals in design, marketing and communication, with the ultimate goal of developing a product suitable for the marketplace.”
– Kern Maass, professor in Appalachian State University’s department of technology and environmental design.
For more information on the
students who have been selected for this project please visit Meet The
Teams.
Appalachian Industrial Design Program
Appalachian State University offers a rigorous Industrial Design Program comprised of 120 majors. This program is divided into two concentrations; Product Design and Furniture Design. Both concentrations focus on the importance of design inquiry, creative problem-solving, user research, social and environmental concerns and manufacturing requirements. Through the use of studio projects and industry collaborations students are constantly provided with the hands on experience necessary to compete and succeed professionally.
The program is housed in a 12000-square-foot
facility within the Department of Technology and is part of the College of
Fine and Applied Arts. The program facilities
are comprised of dedicated studio space, computer labs and material exploration
facilities supporting a woodworking lab, metal fabrication lab, plastic working
area, ceramics lab, welding facility, spray booth, CNC lab and rapid
prototyping equipment.
As part of a studio project last
year, seniors in Industrial Design participated in a Design competition for
Groovystuff and Dick Idol. The resulting furniture pieces were shown at High
Point Market in the spring. This year the Industrial Design Program is very
excited to partner with Eastman Chemical Company and received hands on
experience designing outdoor furniture with a fascinating new type of
wood.
Eastman Chemical Company has
been leading the market in the most cutting-edge technology and products for
nearly a century. Eastman’s
chemicals, fibers and plastics are used as key ingredients in products that
people use every day. Approximately 10,000 Eastman employees around
the world blend technical expertise and innovation to deliver practical
solutions. The company is committed to finding sustainable business
opportunities within the diverse markets and geographies it serves. A global
company headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA, Eastman had 2011 sales of
$7.2 billion.
Headquartered
in Kingsport, Tennessee, the company has
20
other manufacturing sites.On February 8, 2012, Eastman announced a new, breakthrough product, called Perennial Wood™. What makes Perennial Wood so special is that it's been modified throughout with proprietary TruLast™ Technology. Once modified, Perennial Wood is able to combat harmful shrinking and swelling, fight cracking and cupping and resist the decay, distortion and movement caused by moisture. This helps it last for decades.
20
other manufacturing sites.On February 8, 2012, Eastman announced a new, breakthrough product, called Perennial Wood™. What makes Perennial Wood so special is that it's been modified throughout with proprietary TruLast™ Technology. Once modified, Perennial Wood is able to combat harmful shrinking and swelling, fight cracking and cupping and resist the decay, distortion and movement caused by moisture. This helps it last for decades.
High Point Furniture Market
Founded in 1909 in High Point,
N.C., the High Point Furniture Market was created to provide the region's furniture makers and retailers with
a convenient location meeting and conducting business. While this event has
outgrown its roots as a regional furniture market it has continued the
tradition of providing a convenient location for furniture makers and retailers
to meet and conduct business.
Over the past century this event
has grown into an internationally renown furniture market with guest from over
100 different countries. Currently the market encompasses 180 buildings, more
than 10 million square feet of exhibition space and hosts an average of 80,000
attendees every Spring and Fall. Each year there are more than 2,000
exhibitors and tens of thousands of new products have been launched at the High
Point Furniture Market.
