UW-Stout Art and Design Senior Show, Game, STEMM Expo invite public to hundreds of student showcases

Capstone design projects in sustainable travel, consumer health punctuate signature polytechnic events

Menomonie, Wis. – Nearly 400 University of Wisconsin-Stout students across art, design, science, technology and engineering programs will showcase their creative, collaborative and research endeavors at three of the university’s signature events from Wednesday, Dec. 11, to Friday, Dec. 13.

Among the hundreds of students will be graphic design and interactive media graduating seniors Emma Johnson and Ellie Johnson, who will exhibit their sustainable travel and consumer health and safety capstone projects at the School of Art and Design Senior Show from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 13, in Applied Arts and Micheels Hall. 

SOAD Senior Show celebrates students’ works in graphic design, video production and animation, industrial and product design, interior design, game design and studio art. Metals, comics, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking and photography exhibitions and sales by students will be throughout the building.

The Furlong Gallery is featuring the SOAD Speaker Series Invitational Solo Exhibitions with artists Megan Jacobs and Danny Saathoff. The exhibition runs through Saturday, Dec. 14.

The Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin's largest game developers’ event, will feature the works of about 250 students from 6 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 11, in the upper level of the Memorial Student Center.

During SGX, first-year to senior students in game design and development-art; and the game design concentration in computer science debut original, playable tabletop games, board and card games, conventional video games, virtual reality experiences and rhythm games.

And at the STEMM Student Expo, hundreds of science, technology and engineering students will display their first- to senior-year projects from 1 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 12, in the Memorial Student Center.

From research to prototypes to solving problems for an industrial or community partner to creative activities, it is an opportunity for students across the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management to collaborate on projects and discuss their research with each other, faculty, industry partners and university and community members.

SOAD capstones focus on sustainable travel and healthy living

Emma and Ellie will exhibit their app and publication, TREUSE and PURE, along with more than 100 of their peers at the SOAD Senior Show.

Emma has always been artistic, and with a family full of artists and designers, she felt constant support and encouragement to pursue a design career.

“As for graphic design, I was always mesmerized by poster design, typographic systems and web design. When I found out there was a field that allowed me to work with all of that and more, it was a no-brainer for me,” she said.

Emma designed TREUSE, a sustainable travel app that connects users with eco-friendly experiences and local vendors. Her app TREUSE focuses on promoting conscious tourism by highlighting activities that support the environment and community.

“Users can explore options like guided tours, workshops and events. The app features interactive sustainability scores, allowing travelers to understand vendors’ commitments to green practices and make informed choices that align with their values,” she said.

Emma, of Farmington, Minn., has a concentration in interactive design concentration. She includes research, sketching, and mind-mapping in her creative process before pulling her ideas down into something that is attainable and realistic, she said.

“I hope TREUSE encourages people to think more about the way they travel and live their everyday lives,” she said. “I have been able to learn more about sustainable living and traveling and plan on holding myself more accountable.”

Ellie created PURE, a publication focused on the health and safety of personal care products, particularly PFAS chemicals.

She aims to empower consumers to make safer product choices by raising awareness of harmful substances they may contain.

“Harmful substances, which accumulate in the body and cause serious health issues, like cancer and fertility problems, are often hidden in consumer products,” she said.

Ellie, of Sturgeon Bay, has a communication design concentration. She developed a brand identity for PURE and used mood boards to shape the project’s aesthetic, then refined and selected her strongest ideas.

“For Senior Show, I hope to demonstrate the attention to detail and design system cohesion that I’ve incorporated into my work, showcasing the skills I’ve developed throughout my studies,” she said.

Ellie and Emma both transferred to UW-Stout’s graphic design program after starting their college careers elsewhere. They each had family and friends who’d gone to school here.

Ellie chose UW-Stout’s GDIM program for its structured approach and problem-solving opportunities after visiting with her brothers, who are current students.

Knowing the reputation of the university through her family, “Stout was always one of my top choices,” Emma said. “When I met with Program Director Alex DeArmond and learned more about Stout’s program, I knew it was the right fit. I transferred the next semester. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Ellie and Emma will graduate on Saturday, Dec. 14. Ellie plans to travel to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam for two months before pursuing a career in design. She is also considering graduate studies.

In the new year, Emma will start her full-time position as a graphic designer at Kasco, a manufacturer of decorative and aerating fountains and systems in Prescott, where she completed her internship last summer.

“Kasco provided me the opportunity to continue working for them part-time while finishing this semester. I’ve learned so much since working there, and I’m grateful for the Kasco team for being so supportive and welcoming,” she added.

UW-Stout’s School of Art and Design offers bachelor’s degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production. It has a master’s in design and design, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

UW-Stout, a member of the Universities of Wisconsin, is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes. Learn more via the FOCUS2030 strategic plan.