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PhilaU Highlight 2011-2012

Weitzner Project: Students Design Innovative Wall Coverings How’s this for an innovative wall covering: recycled and cleaned wine corks – which might otherwise end up in landfills? Or how about a wall fabric that’s woven with living moss? These are some of the novel products five interdisciplinary student teams, led by graduate textile designers, came up with during a semester-long collaboration with New York-based designer Lori Weitzner. The winning cork design, and possibly others, will be manufactured as part of Weitzner’s line of “smart” wall coverings. A panel of industry judges also were wowed by the moss wall covering—an easy care, eco-friendly product that can be revived with a spritz of water—which garnered an honorable mention. Faculty members Mark Sunderland and Hitoshi Ujiie helped coordinate the project, which included students in business, industrial design, fashion and textile engineering. “The students learned how to create ideas for a specific purpose and client. They had to think not just about the design, but how to bring it to market, how to promote and sell it.” LORI WEITZNER 65


PhilaU Highlight 2011-2012
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