Philadelphia University students collaborating on a furniture project this fall will have their works displayed at a gallery opening this Saturday, Nov. 14, at Propper Brothers Furniture store, located at 115 Levering Street in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The gallery opening is free and open to the public.

The collaborative course, designed to simulate the way different departments work within a company, brought together students from several disciplines to study and implement the factors that go into product development. Students were divided into five teams to create innovative, well-designed and detailed pieces of furniture, along with a marketing plan for each new product.

Pieces on display at the gallery opening will include a computer desk, chair, coffee table, sofa and bed. Propper Brothers Furniture and Harden Furniture, located in McConnellsville, N.Y., are sponsoring the class project and have provided industry insights to the students throughout the semester.

Students in the Design V Industrial Design course, taught by professors Mike Leonard and Mike Schmick, have worked as the principal product designers. The student designers act as the primary design communicators, giving form and substance to the new furniture through initial concept creation, design detailing, specifications and product development.

Business students in the Product Development and Innovation course, taught by Professor Steve Frumkin in the School of Business Administration, work as the business developers and marketers for the new products. The students wrote business and marketing plans, and led the business and commerce development for the project.

The course exemplifies the University’s active, collaborative and real world approach to learning and represents the University’s Strategic Plan by incorporating collaboration among the design, engineering and commerce disciplines, with a focus on achieving innovation.

“This has been an opportunity for students to learn in a real world structure,” said Frumkin. “Students from many different backgrounds are working together and gaining experience that will help them hit the ground running in the business world.”

The collaboration did not stop there. In total, students and faculty in four schools –Business Administration, Design and Media, Engineering and Textiles, and Liberal Arts – took part in the semester-long project. The interdisciplinary project is one of the largest of its kind at the University.

Faculty and undergraduate and graduate students in the School of Business Administration offered insights on business law, retail strategies, product mix, management techniques and information solutions, simulating project management in a real-world setting. Organizational behavior and group dynamics were identified through observation.

Engineering faculty and students in the School of Engineering and Textiles focused on engineering economics and operational research, paying close attention to the feasibility and supply chain process for each piece of furniture.

Textile and fashion design faculty and students in the School of Engineering and Textiles worked collaborative with the teams to develop design and jacquard fabric patterns for the pieces of furniture.

Professional communications faculty and students in the School of Liberal Arts worked on branding and advertising concepts for the furniture.

Industry representatives will be judging the final pieces on display at the Saturday, Nov. 14, gallery opening. Light appetizers and beverages will be available.