By senior year in Otis College’s Product Design program, the training wheels are off. The back-to-back Design Studio V and VI mark the moment when students stop following assignments—and start setting their own.
In Design Studio V, every student becomes their own creative director. They write the brief, define the problem, and choose a focus that speaks to their passions—whether that’s a digital tool, a physical object, or something that blurs the line. It’s an exploration of both philosophy and practice: small-group critiques spark unexpected ideas, visiting lecturers open new career windows, and weekly tasks push students to ask bigger questions about where design can make an impact. By the end of fall, each has a finished product design and a clear plan to bring it to life.
Then comes Design Studio VI, the bridge from classroom to career. Here, ideas meet execution. Students finalize and manufacture their designs, refine their portfolios, and prepare to present their work at the Senior Show—where industry professionals, potential employers, and the public see the culmination of years of study. It’s about more than a polished project; it’s about leaving with the tools, confidence, and mindset to thrive in the vast, unpredictable world of design.
In these studios, students don’t just learn how to design, they learn how to design their future.
Below are examples from the 2025 Spring graduating class, designs that range from the unexpected to the beautifully crafted, offering fresh solutions to everyday items.
These Students are Designing Their Own Path
NHÂN
CAO
X-Swap Bag
A bag is not just a container. It is also a tool for self-expression.
The X-Swap Bag System includes one main bag and two side component bags. Magnetic buckles allow for easy compartment changes, and each compartment can be customized based on the user’s needs.
The X-Swap Bag System invites the user to play. Match your outfit by swapping out bag compartments. Add your personality through accessories.
Designed for everyday use, this bag brings function and flexibility with a touch of self-expression.
NICHOLAS CHA
Indigo
A seat with soul crafted from layers of recycled denim, each Indigo Stool carries the visible history of worn jeans, reimagined into sculptural function. Bound together with eco-friendly bioresin, the stool is lightweight, durable, and one-of-a-kind.
Through its soft texture and rich indigo hues, this piece invites us to reconsider waste as a resource and to see everyday materials as vessels of memory and meaning.
CAMERON FARR
Vedra
The Vedra table lamp balances warmth and permanence through its seamless fusion of steel and light. Curved 1/8” thick steel tubing forms a welded frame with ground, flush joints that create a continuous, sculptural silhouette.
Custom 3D-printed orbs nest within the structure, diffusing light to give the user a soft glow while the lamp’s weight and welded steel construction evoke durability and permanence. Vedra invites touch while standing with a quiet, confident presence.
VIVIANA LEY
Ludica
Ludica bridges the gap between playful learning and everyday living by offering kids’ storage that’s interactive, adaptable, and aesthetically designed for shared spaces. It empowers children to engage with their environment while supporting parents and educators with thoughtful, lasting organization.
Inspired by the belief that play is a fundamental part of human development, Ludica reflects on my childhood – building forts from couch cushions and making games from everyday objects. The cushion boxes and tactile doors are designed to spark that same instinct for creativity and exploration. It’s a celebration of play as a tool for growth, connection, and joy.
ROSE LOVELL
Goobladon
This piece combines fantasy and special effects elements to reimagine household lighting as a playful and immersive experience. Influenced by monster films, tabletop RPGs, and installations like Meow Wolf, it emphasizes visual storytelling and atmosphere.
Sculpted in Chavant wax-based clay, the form was molded in silicone using multiple techniques. The final lamp was rotation-cast in dyed polyurethane resin, creating a hollow structure built up in layers, then masked, primed, and spray-painted for a detailed finish.
EDISON MAO
Post-Workout Shoe
Balancing performance support with lightweight comfort.
The Post-Workout Shoe is a shoe that not only provides superior comfort and support for individuals recovering after exercise but is also versatile enough for daily wear.
A shoe designed for both training and relaxation. Two parts for two needs – support when you move, comfort when you rest.
NOVA LEE MITTLEMAN
Blindspot
Can adornment be used to camouflage?
Adornment that distorts facial features, providing a sense of safety and security. Created in response to the issue of a constant state of surveillance, AI, deep fakes, filters, and more.
ELIJAH MOUL
See & See
A functional object and a quiet act of resistance – an intervention, a celebration, and a reflection, the See & See Chair blurs the line between art and furniture. It stands as a response to a world of excess, offering a vision for design that doesn’t extract more, but instead reuses what’s already here.
CNC plywood offcuts from the furniture manufacturing process are reclaimed as the raw material for a sculptural, high-back dining chair. Each fragment is preserved in its original form, maintaining the unique geometry and character shaped by the production line.
Using joints, layered intersections, and edge bonds, the pieces are joined into a mosaic of plywood ‘trash.’ The design is guided by the shapes themselves, resulting in one-of-a-kind silhouettes that blend gesture with structure.
BONA NGUYEN
Lelluri
This project celebrates women who climb with grit, grace, and community.
Embroidered topographic maps from iconic climbing locations and a silhouette alluding to overhangs reflect the terrain women climb and the barriers they break. The form also allows climbing shoes to be clipped on.
Swappable climbing gym holds serve as expressive tokens. Collected, traded, or earned, they symbolize achievement and belonging.
It is a wearable celebration of strength, support, and the growing presence of women in the sport.
Interior compartments hold essentials like chalk, a change of clothes, first aid, layers, and skincare.
BETTY PHAM
INTO
A tabletop game that fosters open communication and intimate relationships. It addresses sexual wellness from a holistic perspective, guiding couples to work together to understand each other both physically and emotionally.
INTO is a thoughtfully designed experience that breaks the stereotype of raunchy, novelty sex toys. It paves the way for beautiful, meaningful sex products that can proudly exist on top of the nightstand, not hidden inside it.
AIDAN QUIGLEY
Kopje
Crafted from impact-resistant plastic and aluminum, Kopje is designed to endure without compromising on style, seamlessly transitioning between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Its clean, cylindrical form and sleek, integrated handle ensure both portability and modern appeal. The internal mechanism allows for a simple, satisfying twist, enabling a ‘phase change’ between home settings and the outdoors.
This action offers both durability and convenience, making it easy to transport across environments.
FELIX SONG
Racing Simulator
This compact racing simulator is designed for small spaces with adjustable parts and easy storage. Lightweight and modular, it offers a realistic driving experience without the bulk.
KRISTA TEE
Onward
Onward turns walking into a strength-building exercise.
With resistance-enabled wheels and a sleek, foldable form, it supports balance, stamina, and confidence, empowering older adults to stay active and independent every day.
RYAN TRIGGS
Revege
With its aluminum body and exposed construction, Revenge celebrates riders who take pride in maintaining their motorcycles.
Designed to lower the barrier to entry for DIY mechanics, this custom tool holder is tailored to each bike, ensuring users always have the right tools for any job.
DANIEL URBAN
Sol-Operit
Sol-Operit (o-PEH-rit), which translates to ‘the sun covers’, consists of two pieces, a hoodie and a cloak.
This garment aims to address the urgent needs posed by climate change and to empower users to work and thrive in challenging outdoor conditions while also providing a message about the possible state of the world in the future.
Inspired by clothing from diverse cultures that add layers to protect themselves from excessive exposure to the sun, it is lightweight and soft, with the main material being bamboo French terry fabric.
STEVEN WILLIAM WIRYOPRANOTO
Mitra
A friend who helps you be productive.
Mitra includes a timer feature that lets users set the number of minutes they want to work. Users can follow techniques like the Pomodoro method to manage their time effectively and prevent burnout.
As the timer runs out, users can earn a reward added to Mitra. This feature provides a sense of progress and accomplishment by giving users tangible milestones to celebrate and motivating them to stay productive.
As you work, you hear Mitra’s movements, like writing and flipping pages. Also, Mitra provides relaxing music beats to enhance your productivity.
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