IDSA Shines Spotlight on 2016 Student Merit Award Winners

IDSA is taking a closer look at the recipients of the 2016 Student Merit Awards (SMAs), sponsored by Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, to coincide with the Youth in Design theme of this year's World Industrial Design Day (#WIDD2016) on June 29..
The 2016 IDSA SMA winners are:
- Patrick Shields, IDSA, Kendall College of Art and Design, IDSA Central District
- Tanner Wills, IDSA, Arizona State University, IDSA West District
- Elvin Chu, IDSA, Georgia Tech, IDSA South District
- Nick Savidge, IDSA, University of Illinois-Chicago, IDSA Midwest District
- Lino Cantarella, IDSA, Wentworth Institute of Technology, IDSA Northeast District
Universities and art schools with industrial design degree programs across the United States, which meet the criteria to host an IDSA Student Chapter, each selected a senior to represent their institution at one of the five IDSA District Design Conferences (DDCs) in April 2016. Then, school-level winners presented at least three of their key design projects at their respective DDCs. One winner was selected by a respected panel of judges at each DDC, as the District SMA winner.
The five national winners earn:
- Free registration to the IDSA International Conference 2016: Making Things Happen August 17 to 20 in Detroit.
- Recognition by their school media.
- Profiles on IDSA.org and in INNOVATION magazine.
- A second year of IDSA Young Professional membership (in addition to the one they received when they won the SMA at the school level).
- An edge on the competition when transitioning from undergraduate to graduate school—or to a design career.
Meet all the winners in the Design Gallery during The IDSA Experience, and congratulate them when they are honored on August 19 at the IDSA Awards during the International Conference.