News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

giffeyt — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 19:00:00 +0000

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design businessgiffeyt February 16, 2026

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

Tom Giffey

The gift of a board game, a visit to a historic distillery and a sleepless night during a sabbatical in Scotland combined to inspire �� Professor Dave Beck to create a successful game design business.

These experiences also transformed Beck ��. approach to teaching students in �� . game design and development programs. Whether they come from the artistic or computer science sides of game design, students make their way to Beck ��. Introduction to Game Design course, where he stresses the fundamentals. And good design, he emphasizes, doesn’t have to start on a computer.

“It ��. really the concept of the design and creating a system and a series of problems and challenges for a player to overcome,” Beck said. “That can happen on paper, or it can happen in pixels.”

The first assignment happens on paper, a common first step for budding game designers, as Beck ��. students use cards, dice and other components to fashion paper prototypes. Paverson Games, Beck ��. acclaimed indie game design business, also started in analog fashion.

Luthier, like other Paverson Games titles, features rich detail and exquisitely designed pieces.

Professor Dave Beck

Back in 2014, Beck — who has academic expertise in 3D modeling, virtual reality, animation, level design and game engines — was given a board game by his wife, �� Senior Lecturer Emily Beck, as a gift. Initially skeptical, he was quickly enchanted by Dominion, a medieval-themed deck-building game, which was very different from the frustrating, luck-based board games he remembered from childhood. Soon, he said, “I fell deep into a rabbit hole” and acquired a basement full of similar board games.

Beck isn’t alone in having his imagination captured by the hobby: Tabletop gaming has undergone a renaissance over the past decade or so, expanding into a $27 billion industry worldwide with projected annual growth of more than 10%. The trend has been driven by the increased availability of well-designed, attractive games like those produced by Paverson Games.

Yet for Beck, board games remained a pastime rather than a vocation for several years until he found himself on sabbatical in Scotland with his wife, who was teaching there for a semester. Amid working on his own 3D augmented reality project, Beck found time to play board games and tour some of Scotland ��. legendary distilleries.

It was shortly after one such tour that Beck spent a sleepless night pondering a potential game. “Probably around midnight, this idea, truly a lightbulb moment, popped in my head about how I could represent the distilling process through a game mechanic, which is basically shuffling and removing cards to represent cutting out the heads and the tails,” he said. (In this context, “heads” and “tails” are byproducts from the beginning and end of the distillation process.)

The next morning found Beck scribbling notes and fashioning pieces of paper — much like his Introduction to Game Design students do. “The second I came up with this idea, I was cutting things out,” he recalled. “It was just like this energy inside me and this kind of joy — I don’t know how to better describe it — that I hadn’t felt in years.”

�� professors, left to right, Seth Berrier (computer science), Sarah Wood (psychology) and Andrew Williams (design) play test an early version of Professor Dave Beck ��. game D / Submitted photo

After more designing and play testing, Beck returned to Wisconsin with the basis of Distilled, which is marketed as a “spirited strategy game” in which players compete to become master distillers by creating whiskey, gin, rum and other spirits. He launched a Kickstarter in 2021, which raised its original goal of $18,000 in just 23 minutes. Ultimately, more than 8,000 backers pledged nearly $550,000 toward the project.

To make the game a reality, Beck leaned on the talents of some of his �� colleagues. Professor Erik Evensen, program director for the B.F.A. illustration program, created the artwork and served as graphic designer for the project. Professor Seth Berrier, program director in B.S. computer science (game design and development concentration), helped create an online version of Distilled, which allowed users to play test the game and give feedback. Meanwhile, Associate Professor Cody Reimer, program director for B.S. game and media studies, used his technical writing skills to edit the rulebook and game text.

More than four years after the original Kickstarter launched, Distilled has sold more than 50,000 copies across 10 different languages. (A cocktail-themed expansion launched last fall raised an additional $631,000 on Kickstarter.) And Beck ��. business has gained attention beyond board-gaming circles, including being named one of the best strategy board games of the year by The New York Times and landing Beck a profile on a recent episode of the PBS Wisconsin series “Wisconsin Life.”

"Wisconsin Life" segment about Paverson Games / PBS Wisconsin

Just like his board game collection, Beck ��. board game output didn’t stop at one. He co-designed a second game, Luthier, in which players take the roles of 18th-century instrument makers during the height of the classical music era. This meticulously detailed game hit the market in 2025 after another successful Kickstarter, which raised $790,000. Two more Paverson Games titles by different designers are now in the pipeline: Class of ’89, which focuses on creating a high school yearbook (with artwork by Evensen), and Ringyō, a forestry game set in feudal Japan (designed by former �� Lecturer Charlie McCarron).

�� game design students have also played a role in the business as paid interns. Most recently, Amanda Gagnon, a junior from Racine, interned for Paverson Games over the winter break. The internship reinforced skills Gagnon learned in her coursework, from updating and formatting files to assembling physical prototypes. The experience, she said, gave her a solid foundation in working on both digital and tabletop games.

“I think a lot of people that first begin to pursue a game design degree — myself included — start out really excited to create the art, the code or the narrative,” Gagnon said. “However, when you’re introduced to tabletop design, it really makes you focus on the mechanic design and player experience instead. Learning more about tabletop design and working with a tabletop company emphasized to me the importance of play testing and making sure players enjoy your game, which can sometimes get missed in digital game design.”

All of the Paverson Games titles rely on strong themes that attract players and keep them fascinated, not frustrated. “I believe very strongly in theme-driven design,” Beck said. “It ��. something that not only helps people learn the game a little easier, because they can understand the real-world connection, but also it oftentimes will have more of a lasting impression that will allow you to really dive deeper into the art of that game as well to create that world for the player.”

Such focus has made Beck a success in both the classroom and the world of board gaming. “It ��. crazy to think how one sleepless night can literally change your life,” he said.

The Paverson Games booth at the Essen Spiel, the world ��. largest board game fair, in Essen, Germany, last fall. / Submitted photo

Game Design & Development

All Game Design & Development News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcases

Students design custom controllers for unique racing games, puzzles, AR experiences

December 8, 2025

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty Dave Beck with Luthier game in Furlong Gallery

University Marketing

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

Our collaborative program will teach you to develop 2D and 3D videogame and tabletop game assets using industry-standard software and hardware.

Learn More

B.S. Computer Science (Game Design & Development Concentration)

Do you love video games?

Search Keywords: game design

Hero Caption: Professor Dave Beck poses with Luthier, a board game he co-designed, which is on display at ��'s Furlong Gallery as part of the School of Art and Design Faculty Exhibit.

Dave Beck

Dave Beck is a practicing game designer and owner of the board game company, Paverson Games. He is the designer of the award-winning board game Distilled: The Spirited Strategy Game and co-designer of Luthier: The Art of the Instrument.

Beck has also designed video games, such as Tombeaux, released on Steam in 2018. This interactive experience investigates the convergence between cultures and the environment across a few hundred years of midwestern American history.

Beck is the recipient of the 2010 International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge Award, given by the National Science Foundation, and his artwork has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Sculpture Magazine, National Geographic, the journal Science, and the book GameScenes: Art in the Age of Videogames.

Full Name: Dave Beck

Job Title: Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Game Design Video Game Design & Development Board Game Design Independent Business Owner Board Game Publishing

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: David Beck CV (417.55 KB)

Website: Personal Website Paverson Games

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Sculpture & Extended Media

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: M.A. Studio Art

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: B.A. Studio Arts & Ancient Studies

University: St. Olaf College

CACHSS SOAD

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

goersab — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:20:00 +0000

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedulegoersab February 11, 2026

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

Abbey Goers

As �� steps into spring semester and continues its Year of Design, community members are invited to myriad civic talks, film screenings and literary conversations, art and design exhibitions, and performing arts events for everyone on campus and throughout the community. Events are open to the public; some events require tickets.

�� . Year of Design celebrates the innovation, leadership and impact central to Wisconsin ��. ��. Upcoming signature events include:

Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m.: Fashion Without Fabric, the Midwest ��. premier unconventional fashion runway shows.
Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m.: WEAR Fashion Show, showcasing innovative capstone collections from fashion design and development seniors.
Tuesday, May 5: Research Day, celebrating the research and creative work of students, faculty, and staff from all fields.
Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo (SGX), western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, May 8, 6 p.m.: SOAD Senior Show, graduating seniors take over Micheels Hall and the Applied Arts building.
Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10: 4th Annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival, dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28: Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, is a collaborative group of community organizations bringing in some of the world ��. best mural artists.

Fashion Without Fabric

�� and the School of Art & Design invite you one of the Midwest's premier unconventional fashion runway shows, Fashion Without Fabric.

Art & Design Exhibitions

Furlong Gallery opens its spring 2026 schedule with the School of Art and Design Faculty Exhibit, on view through Saturday, March 6. This exhibit brings together a wide range of interdisciplinary work by more than 25 SOAD faculty artists and designers.

'Vini Van Go' by Eli Koltanowski, and 'A pregnant pause followed by an audible sigh' by Matthew Wilichowski

Friday, March 13, to Thursday, April 23

North Gallery: "Support Structures," a group show by the Studio Art Program Advisory Committee.
South Gallery: "Simon Ungless: A Life in Print in the South Gallery." Ungless is the founder and designer of When Simon met Ralph, and former textile designer at Alexander McQueen

A reception will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 10, during Destination Weekend. A Meet the Artist event for Ungless will be on Monday, April 13.

Monday, May 4, through September

North Gallery: End of the Year Juried Exhibition
South Gallery: Bud and Betty Student Artist in Residence Exhibition, featuring SAIR recipients Ainsely Violet and Eli Koltanowski

Gallery 209 rotates exhibits on a weekly basis. Located in the Applied Arts building on the second floor, exhibits are reserved for Senior Thesis Exhibitions, as well as master ��. in design students, design and fine art classes and student organizations. An Advanced Printmaking exhibition will be held in Gallery 209, April. 10-12, Destination Weekend.

The Library Art Lab, on the first floor of the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center, showcases student artists, faculty and campus collaborations. Exhibitions include applied research, capstones, clubs and classwork. There are two exhibitions each semester.

Student Artist-in-Residence recipients Ainsley Violet and Eli Koltanowski

Civic dialogue

�� . Center for Applied Ethics will host guest speaker J.P. Messina, professor of philosophy at Purdue University. Messina will present on “Workplace Censorship” from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, in the Memorial Student Center Ballroom A. He will discuss the legal environment that protects employers’ rights to fire employees, even while exercising freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment. And if employer censorship becomes widespread, how discourse can suffer as people withhold their views from the public sphere.

Center for Applied Ethics

Our mission is to increase and enhance ethical conversations across the campus community.

The center also hosts Philosophers’ Cafés, informal, friendly conversations on contemporary issues. Meetings are open to all and are led by �� and UW-Eau Claire faculty. Upcoming conversations will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, at Brewery Nønic in Menomonie:

Feb. 11: What Responsibility Does Society Have Toward Children?
March 11: Perceptions of Law and Its Discontents
April 8: Can Wartime Dehumanization Be Avoided?

The Center for Applied Ethics, Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence, and the Freedom of Expression Committee are hosting a series of events, “Enhancing Campus Culture: Free Expression and Civil Discourse,” funded by the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue and the Menard Center.

The non-partisan, non-ideological Menard Center is dedicated to the study and discussion of civil liberties and related institutions and innovations through scholarly inquiry, educational activities and community outreach.

Film screening and literary discussions

Continuing with Reading Across Campus’ focus on Jane Austen ��. “Pride and Prejudice,” the Literature Committee will host a film screening and discussion from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 18, in Harvey Hall Theatre. A short discussion led by professors Joan Navarre and Kristin Risley will follow the film.

Featured author Dasha Kelly, a former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, will present on her most recent anthology, “A Line Meant: A Collaborative Poetry Collection,” from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 20, in Harvey Hall Theatre. Hamilton has worked with incarcerated populations, helping groups write and publish poetry. Her talk is co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Human Sciences and will connect to the theme of “Helping Humanity Flourish.”

University Theatre

University Theatre will present “Something Rotten,” directed by Audric Buhr, at Harvey Hall Theatre. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world ��. very first musical. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.

Performance dates and times are:

Friday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 12, 2 p.m.
Thursday, April, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m.

“Something Rotten” has received several Best Musical nominations and was hailed by Time Out New York as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.”

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Musical performances

Stout Choirs, directed by Jean Enyeart and Jonathan Campbell, while Jerry Hui is on sabbatical: Saturday, April 25, 7 p.m., at Our Savior ��. Lutheran Church, 910 9th Street E., Menomonie. The spring choral program, “Questions,” will be a musical exploration of “why?” As graduates move on to build a better world, they will be faced with many uncertainties. Questions come in many forms: rhetorical, spiritual and intellectual. Fear, awe and wonder lead to different kinds of questions.
The Symphonic Band, directed by Erika Svanoe: Sunday, April 26, 2 p.m., in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. “Echoes of Eco” will feature music about our national parks, the wilderness and the great outdoors, including “Diamond Tide” by Viet Cuong, “Wilderness” by Cait Nishimura, and a music and video presentation of “National Park Suite” by Ryan Fraley. The concert will also feature a new piece by Svanoe titled “Winds Across the Water.”
Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra, directed by James Anderson: Saturday, May 2, 7 p.m., at Harvey Hall Theatre. Come hear, groove and tap your toes to jazz classics, such as Benny Goodman ��. “Sing, Sing, Sing!,” Charles Mingus’ “Fables of Faubus,” Glenn Miller ��. “Moonlight Serenade,” as well as some new favorites, too.

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Community

All Community News

With WIAC trophy in hand, Blue Devils hockey team readies for postseason run

After first-ever outright regular season title, ‘calm and composed’ squad aims for conference tourney, potential NCAA trip

February 25, 2026

Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��

Engineering, technical, design competitions prepare young people for future careers

February 25, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances Artwork by Eli Koltanowski and Matthew Wilichowski

University Marketing

Year of Design

A year of events highlighting the innovation, leadership, and impact at the heart of everything we do as Wisconsin's ��.

Hero Caption: "Choreography of the Deep" was the first-place winner in the 2025 Fashion Without Fabric show.

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

giffeyt — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 17:00:00 +0000

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry eventgiffeyt December 9, 2025

PC game ��. win highlights �� . globally ranked program

Tom Giffey

The creators of a computer game about a doomed submarine had a real-life sinking feeling last May as the date of the Stout Game Expo (SGX) approached. After months of work on the claustrophobic, cooperative game Dread Not, the team of 15 University of Wisconsin-Stout students were facing problems with their code which had broken an otherwise polished game.

It was a stressful situation, recalled Ryan Thiede, the game ��. art manager and original pitch creator. Not only was the game a capstone project for these soon-to-be graduates, but it was scheduled to be shared with hundreds of attendees at SGX, the region ��. largest game expo.

Fortunately, what Thiede described as “late-night heroics” from lead coder Ben Rowan and gameplay coder Jacob Richardt got the two-player networked game working, and it went on to win two awards, Audience Choice and Best Art, at the spring event.

“It ��. a crazy story, but it says something for the tenacity and drive from the people on the team,” added Thiede, who graduated in May with a degree in game design and development-art. “We went from an unplayable game to an award-winning capstone project, essentially, overnight.”

Six months later, the Dread Not team received more accolades, winning the award for best student entry at M+DEV, the largest game industry conference in the Midwest, which drew 1,500 attendees to Madison Nov. 7-8 and featured two days of expert-led panels and speakers, game showcases, workshops and networking. M+DEV served as a platform for the creativity, skill and scholarship generated by �� . globally and nationally ranked game design program.

At least 90 M+DEV attendees were either current students, alumni or faculty of ��. These included two faculty members and three alumni who made presentations and several dozen alumni who exhibited games, including three teams of recent graduates who shared recent capstone projects: Dread Not as well as Tubular!! and Mega Dimension Ripper 9000.

The latest student-built games will be ready for players at the fall semester SGX, which will run 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, in the Great Hall of Memorial Student Center on the �� campus.

Visitors play Dread Not, a game created in a �� game design capstone course, at the spring 2025 Stout Game Expo (SGX).

Expo showcases top-ranked program

M+DEV, which is organized annually by the Wisconsin Games Alliance, bills itself as “the hub for indie and AAA developers, industry professionals, students and casual gamers.” The event ��. sponsors include ��, whose undergraduate game design program is ranked No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 in the world by Princeton Review.

Unique among public universities in Wisconsin, �� offers bachelor ��. degrees in both the art and science of gaming: namely the B.F.A. game design and development-art and the B.S. computer science (game design and development concentration). Graduate students in the M.F.A. design program also can choose a game design focus.

�� is also home to the new B.S. game and media studies program, the only game-oriented media studies program in Wisconsin. The university also offers an esports coaching minor and was the first public university in Wisconsin to launch a varsity esports program.

M+DEV provides a valuable opportunity for the �� students, faculty and alumni to connect with each other and the game development community at large while gaining visibility for their projects, said Professor Andrew Williams.

Professor Andrew Williams

“Anytime you can get people to interact with your work, you are reaching your intended audience, and you learn how to improve your craft,” Williams said. “Game development is an incremental process and the more opportunities you have to talk with your players and build that community around your project, the better!”

Williams, whose game art has previously won awards at M+DEV, returned this year as a speaker. His presentation — evocatively titled “Building the Plane While Flying It: The Rapid Development of an AI-Powered Educational Game Series” — highlighted how a company he works with, immersionED, is using AI to create engaging history content for elementary through high school students. Through roleplaying as fictional historical characters in 70 scenarios, students can develop their historical thinking skills, Williams said.

“In the industry, AI use is highly varied as there is no ‘standard practice’ yet since we are just learning how it could be beneficial to speeding up workflows,” Williams said. “We may be moving into a new phase of its use as the industry is starting to understand it is not a solution to every problem.”

Other M+DEV presenters included Michael Tetzlaff, assistant professor of computer science, and �� alumni Jacob Schwitzer, B.S. computer science (game design & development concentration); Sam Baeseman, B.F.A. game design & development-art; and Mary Benetti, B.F.A. game design & development-art.

Benetti, graduated in 2021 and worked for four years at Field Day Lab, a digital learning game studio in Madison. At M+DEV, she delivered a presentation about how to create game art that looks beautiful even on computers and VR devices with lower technical specifications.

Benetti developed an interest in educational games during her �� coursework, which also gave her an understanding of the entire pipeline of a game project, from concept to release.

“I always felt a strong sense of community with the Stout game program, whether you're a current student or alumni,” she said. “The program also has a very motivated and positive set of faculty that push students to keep growing their skills, and M+DEV is the place to do it.”

She continued: “M+DEV provides a space to connect with like-minded creatives, be inspired by unique game projects, and learn about game skills and the industry through presentations. It ��. incredibly encouraging to see all the amazing projects underway in the Midwest too — there is a lot of talent in the area. The value of M+DEV has remained as strong as it was when I was a student. I go there to learn, grow and connect.”

In the game Dread Not, players must cooperate to survive in a sinking submarine. / Contributed image

Winning game an ‘intense experience’

Thiede, who now works as a 3D artist for Las Vegas-based Game Breakdown, conceived the idea that became Dread Not as a capstone project and pitched it to his fellow students last year. His goal was to create something that could be enjoyed by players of all ages — including people who don’t consider themselves “gamers” — and that fostered collaboration.

“It was a project that was meant to immerse and connect two people through an intense 10-minute experience,” Thiede said. The two players, a pilot and a mechanic, must cooperate quickly and effectively to solve multiple problems — namely dwindling oxygen levels and an angry sea monster — and reach the surface before their submarine ��. oxygen runs out.

And just as the game players must cooperate to succeed, so did the 15 �� students who created the game. At the helm was Sarah Ziebarth, who as the game ��. producer kept the project on schedule, balancing the team ��. workload while also completing her own lighting design and project marketing responsibilities.

Ziebarth, who graduated in May with dual majors in game design and development-art and computer science, praised how the students cooperated over the course of two semesters to overcome obstacles, add features and optimize the game.

“The game design and development program at Stout has always done an exceptional job of making sure both sides of development (art and computer science) work together in multiple classes throughout their college careers and thus learn the important skills of teamwork and communication,” Ziebarth said.

Thiede agreed, adding that �� . program allowed him to explore many different paths in the game design field. “The layout of courses grants you time to experiment to see what you like, as well as plunge deep into what you may choose to focus on: 2D art, 3D art, VFX, lighting, animation, technical art, etc.,” he said. “All are possible at Stout.”

Thiede said he was pleasantly surprised when, while chatting with industry friends at M+DEV, he was suddenly whisked to the stage to receive an award for Dread Not.

“Genuinely, I pictured my career to be filled with people telling me what to do, and me just doing it,” he reflected. “I never imagined having an idea of mine make it this far. The reason it has is because of the people I worked with at Stout — the professors, but more importantly, my teammates.”

Professor Seth Berrier, far left, and Associate Professor Kim Loken, far right, stand with some of the �� alumni who created Dread Not at the M+DEV conference in Madison. / Submitted photo

Associate Professor Kim Loken, who was co-instructor for the capstone course alongside Professor Seth Berrier, praised the Dread Not team for their success.

“Unlike the held-together-by-duct-tape world of their game, this team was high-performing and well-organized with clear goals, excellent communication and exceptional craft,” Loken said. “Their networked game, damage system and puzzle design challenged the programmers, and the artists excelled with a rigorously researched and realized 3D environment, enriched by a diegetic backstory and wry character details. We’re proud of the continued commitment they’ve shown to their work, polishing it over the summer for a Steam release and continuing to exhibit their work for direct engagement with players.”

Since its June release on Steam, the largest digital distribution platform for PC games, Dread Not has been downloaded more than 250,000 times.

Other members of the Dread Not team included B.F.A. game design and development-art majors Zach Adler, Eleanor Berg, Gabe Anderson, Elaine Kelling, Samuel Lambert, Ben Moon, and Jon Wolfe, and B.S. computer science majors Guinness Bruce, Graham Higdon, Victor Mondragon, Nathan Morgan-Shimmin, Jacob Richardt, and Ben Rowan. The team also collaborated with 11 students from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, who contributed original music, sound effects and voice talent.

Game Design & Development

All Game Design & Development News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Game Expo, Senior Show, STEMM Student Expo cap fall semester with public demos, showcases

Students design custom controllers for unique racing games, puzzles, AR experiences

December 8, 2025

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program Dread Not team with MDEV 2025 award

University Marketing

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

Our collaborative program will teach you to develop 2D and 3D videogame and tabletop game assets using industry-standard software and hardware.

Learn More

B.S. Computer Science (Game Design & Development Concentration)

Do you love video games?

Search Keywords: game designM+DEVvideo games

Hero Caption: �� game design alumni celebrate their winning game, Dread Not, at November's M+DEV game conference in Madison. / Submitted photo

Kim Loken

Kim Loken's industry experience spans civic, commercial, and residential projects. Her approach to each is further informed by a storytelling mindset cultivated in work for film and theater. In her prior architecture practice, she helmed a variety of adaptive reuse, historic preservation and new construction projects. More recent work focuses on the use of games as systems for analyzing complex problems, particularly those related to environmental issues. Teaching invigorates her practice and provides the opportunity to mentor young designers in a variety of disciplines.

Teaching Interests: Design thinking, interdisciplinary design, large-scale collaborative projects

Research Interests: Phenomenology, narrative-driven design

Professional Interests: Place-making, critical regionalism, cultural history and adaptive re-use

Full Name: Kim Loken

Job Title: Associate Professor / Program Director / Minor Advisor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Architecture Systems Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Kimberly Loken CV (88.67 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.Arch.

University: University of Texas at Austin

Degree: Licensed Architect

Degree: LEED-Accredited Professional

University: U.S. Green Building Council

CACHSS

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Seth Berrier

Seth earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 2012 where he worked with Professor Meyer in the disciplines of computer graphics and visualization. He also holds a B.A. in Music from the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University in Indianapolis. He is a classically trained tenor and an active participant in community theater in and around the Chippewa Valley.

Teaching Interests: Introductory programming courses, data structures and algorithms, software engineering, and computer graphics.

Research Interests: Seth is interested in using the visual power of graphics and visualization to bridge the pure technical disciplines of math and computer science with design and the arts. He has interests in design disciplines ranging from architecture to fashion and game design and seeks to develop new tools that enable the creative processes in these fields. He is also interested in advancing the primitive world of music visualization through the disciplines of formal music theory and form and analysis. In computer science, he is most interested in image based rendering and light field acquisition, photogrammetry and light fields for digital heritage, real-time photo-realistic rendering with graphics hardware and high-level shading languages.

Full Name: Dr. Seth F. Berrier

Job Title: Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Computer Graphics Real-time 3D Rendering Game Design Design Process Photogrammetry Light-field Rendering Web Programming Software Engineering

College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

Department: Mathematics, Statistics & Computer Science Department

Program

All Degree Programs

B.S. Computer Science

Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Seth F. Berrier CV (128.16 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: M.S. Computer Science

University: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Degree: B.A. Music

University: Butler University

CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)

smithjen — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 15:15:42 +0000

#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)smithjen October 1, 2025

Andrew Murphy shares about his time at ��, leadership influences and how he is giving back to others.

Name: Andrew Murphy
Program: M.F.A. Design
Graduation year: 2018
Employer: Apple Retail
Position: Head of Corporate Strategy

Career Path & Leadership:

What inspired you to pursue your career, and how did your time at �� shape that path?
My career path hasn’t been linear, but it’s always been guided by a fascination with how people connect to experiences. I started with a music degree because I was curious about how sound could move people emotionally. That curiosity evolved into studying video and film at UW-Stevens Point, where I focused on narrative design and the power of storytelling to transport an audience.
Eventually, I was drawn to the world of experiential design and how to combine multiple disciplines to create immersive environments that engage people on many levels. That exploration led me to pursue my MFA at ��, where I gained the tools to think more holistically about design. �� helped me bridge creativity with strategy, blending design and business to shape more intentional, impactful experiences.
Looking back, were there any courses, professors, or campus experiences at �� that had a lasting impact on your leadership style or professional philosophy?
Several courses at �� had a lasting influence on my professional philosophy, particularly Design Seminar and Research Strategies in Design. These classes deepened my understanding of the research process in design and how to translate insights into meaningful outcomes.
I was also fortunate to have had several influential faculty members during my time on campus. My program director and academic advisor, Julie Peterson, helped me clarify my goals for the program and emphasized the importance of building on existing knowledge while striving to create new knowledge. Working with Dave Beck on several independent studies taught me how to collaborate effectively, especially when developing and testing theories across different software platforms. From Erik Evensen, I gained valuable skills in digital design and visual prototyping, tools I still use daily in my work.

Stout Experience & Influence:

Are there any lessons from ��’s polytechnic approach to education that continue to influence your day-to-day decision-making or long-term strategy?
��’s polytechnic approach taught me how to bridge theory and practice, how to take design concepts and theoretical knowledge and apply them directly to real-world projects. That mindset continues to influence both my day-to-day decisions and long-term strategy. I’ve learned to start with a strong conceptual foundation, then translate those ideas into practical, tangible outcomes that achieve the end goal.
What advice would you give to current School of Art and Design students at �� who aspire to reach leadership roles?
I would encourage students to pay close attention to the leaders around them. Observe how their actions, communication, and decision-making make you feel, and understand the work that goes into their role. Identify the qualities that inspire you and look for ways to model those behaviors. Just as importantly, learn from the negative experiences, too; understanding what doesn’t work can be just as valuable as knowing what does. Leadership growth often comes from combining those lessons into your own authentic style.

Personal Reflections & Giving Back:

Do you maintain any connections to �� today, whether through mentoring, guest speaking (outside of your upcoming Cabot Executive), or alumni activities?
Yes, I do. I keep in touch with a number of alumni from my program. It’s always fun to look back on our time at Stout and see the different directions our careers have taken. I also try to connect with other Stout grads whenever I’m at the Game Design Conference in San Francisco. And I still email with a few of my professors, which is a great way to stay connected to what’s happening on campus.
What role does mentorship play in your leadership, and did anyone at �� serve as a mentor or role model for you?
While I didn’t have a formal mentor during my time at �� or early in my career, I was fortunate to have several influential leaders in my life. They helped shape the way I think about my work, approach opportunities, and navigate challenges. Their encouragement and example were incredibly motivating, and those experiences are a big reason why I now participate in a formal mentoring program at my current employer. I see mentorship as a powerful way to share knowledge, build confidence, and help others grow.
As someone who has achieved great success in your field, what legacy do you hope to leave, and how does �� fit into that story?
I hope my legacy is inspiring others to see their skills in a broader context—to stay curious, communicate their ideas clearly, and recognize that design and business can work hand in hand. I want to encourage people to remain open to wonder and possibility, because that mindset often leads to the most innovative solutions.
�� is part of that legacy because it gave me the foundation to think both creatively and strategically. I hope to continue connecting with �� students. I believe it is important to encourage them to think philosophically about their lives and to be intentional about how they enter the working world, not just with technical skills, but with a sense of purpose and vision for the kind of impact they want to make.

Alumni

All Alumni News

#StoutProud: Jacob Schwitzer ('20)

Jacob Schwitzer '20 is using interactive storytelling to help Indigenous students feel seen and bring modern Menominee stories into classrooms and communities.

February 12, 2026

#StoutProud: Katie Brenner ('04)

Adaptability, relationship-building and leadership define alumna ��. journey to executive roles guiding growth and innovation in the consumer food industry

January 30, 2026

#StoutProud: Brian Morgan ('07)

A �� education helped LTC Brian Morgan ’07 lead Minnesota ��. first-ever National Guard cyber response and shape the future of public cyber defense.

January 30, 2026

Andrew Murphy shares about his time at ��, leadership influences and how he is giving back to others. andrew_murphy_cabot_executive-in-residence.jpg

Alumni

Submit your #StoutProud Story

Submit now

Support the Stout experience that produces leaders like Andrew by making a gift!

Make your gift today

Cabot Executive-in-Residence Series

The Cabot Executive Residency Program allows �� to invite major corporate leaders to spend one or several days on campus to get involved.

Search Keywords: School of Art and Design, Masters in Fine Art, �� alumni, Stout alumni, Stout Proud, #StoutProud, StoutProud

Hero Caption: Andrew Murphy, Cabot Executive in Residence, delivers a presentation to a packed audience.

Is content a Story?: Yes

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Design focus anchors ��'s fall 2025 event schedule

goersab — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 15:20:27 +0000

Design focus anchors ��'s fall 2025 event schedulegoersab September 25, 2025

Community invited to exhibitions, lectures and discussions, readings and performances

Abbey Goers

As �� launches its Year of Design, community members are invited to myriad talks, performances and exhibitions scheduled on campus this fall.

From exhibitions featuring graphic design, photography, light play and ceramics to philosophical and literary conversations, to performing arts, there are events for everyone on campus and throughout the community.

In 2025-2026, �� is celebrating a Year of Design to highlight the innovation, leadership and impact central to Wisconsin ��. ��. Upcoming signature events include:

Thursday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m.: Cabot Executive-in-Residence keynote address, “Designed to Influence,” with Andrew Murphy, head of Corporate Engagement Strategy at Apple.
Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11: School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary. Registration is required for the free event.
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Friday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.: School of Art & Design Senior Show, featuring the works of more than 200 graduating seniors.

Celebrating 60 years: School of Art & Design hosts anniversary events Oct. 10-11

Year of Design highlights AI innovations, alumni leadership, student success

Art & Design Exhibitions

Furlong Gallery opens the 2025 fall exhibition schedule with two side-by-side solo exhibitions:

Saturday, Sept. 18, to Saturday, Oct. 25

�� Professor Charles Matson Lume ��. Sabbatical Exhibition, “becoming I, I say You (for Martin Buber),” is in the North Gallery. An artist talk with Matson Lume will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
School of Art & Design Visiting Artist, ceramist Hannah Niswonger, is in the South Gallery. Her exhibit “Didn’t I Used to Have a Sense of Humor?” brings together four installations: “Octopus ��. Garden,” “Cloud—Bird—Place,” “Poisonous & Carnivorous Dinnerware,” and “Conversations with My Father ��. Paintings.” Niswonger is a ceramicist from Massachusetts.
A closing reception for both artists will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, followed by an artist talk with Niswonger.

Monday, Nov. 10, to Saturday, Dec. 13

Dunn County-born artist and photographer Erinn Springer will be featured in the North Gallery. Springer now resides in Duluth, Minnesota.
Catalogtree, a multidisciplinary design collective based in the Netherlands, will be featured in the South Gallery.

A ceramic octopus by Hannah Niswonger, featured in “Didn’t I Used to Have a Sense of Humor?” / Hannah Niswonger

Join game designer Erika Svanoe and illustrator Erik Evenson for a talk on their creation and collaboration of the popular Jane Austen card game “Marrying Mr. Darcy” from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at the Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center. A Q&A and game play will follow. See if you can win the game and the heart of Mr. Darcy.

Gallery 209 rotates exhibits on a weekly basis. Located in the Applied Arts building on the second floor, exhibits are reserved for Senior Thesis Exhibitions, as well as master ��. in design students, design and fine art classes and student organizations. An Alumni Art Exhibition will be held in Gallery 209, Oct. 10-12, Stout Proud Family and Supporter Weekend.

Civic dialogue

A special event, “Banned Books Week: A Conversation with Dr. Samuel Cohen,” will be held from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Harvey Hall Theatre. Cohen is the associate chair of the department of English at University of Missouri. He will discuss his forthcoming book “Banning Books in America: Not a How-to.”

Comments will be offered by Menomonie Public Library Director Joleen Sterk. An audience Q&A will follow, moderated by Menard Center for the Study of Institutions & Innovation Director Afton Greco. The event will conclude with a Kahoot contest with prizes for students. The event is sponsored by the Menard Center with co-sponsors, the University Library; Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies; Honors College; the Literature Committee; the Center for Applied Ethics; and the Menomonie Public Library. Cohen ��. book will be published in February 2026.

Center for Applied Ethics

Our mission is to increase and enhance ethical conversations across the campus community.

�� . Center for Applied Ethics hosts Philosophers’ Cafés, informal, friendly conversations on contemporary issues. Meetings are open to all and are led by �� and UW-Eau Claire faculty. Upcoming conversations will be held at 7 p.m., at Brewery Nønic in Menomonie:

Wednesday, Oct. 8: AI and Our Humanity
Wednesday, Nov. 12: The Wisconsin Idea: What Does It Mean to You?
Wednesday, Dec. 10: Are Gender Disparities in the Workplace a Problem?

The Center for Applied Ethics, Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence, and the Freedom of Expression Committee are hosting a series of events, “Enhancing Campus Culture: Free Expression and Civil Discourse,” funded by the Wisconsin Institute for Citizenship and Civil Dialogue and the Menard Center.

Forty to 60 students will participate in four discussion dinners over the course of the year. Each dinner will center around a controversial moral or political issue, with tables facilitated by faculty members Mitch Ogden, Cynthia Bland, Daniel Sinkovits, Lopa Basu, Alison Lukowski and Tina Lee.

Literary discussions

The Literature Committee will host its annual Faculty and Staff Creative Writing Reading from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Raw Deal. The committee invites faculty and staff from all areas of the university to share their poetry or prose.

‘Sing, Slivered Tongue’: �� professor ��. book of poetry is a statement of courage, hope

Basu ��. anthology gathers 68 international voices to reflect on trauma, resolution

English Professor Lopamudra Basu will present on her book of poetry “Sing, Slivered Tongue” as part of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Riverview Room at L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire and virtually. The hybrid event will include several contributing poets joining via Zoom. Books will be available for purchase at local bookstores this fall.

“Sing, Slivered Tongue” sheds light on the subject of trauma and gathers the voices of 68 women from various South Asian communities. “It is not just a litany of trauma. It is a statement of courage. It offers hope and is an attempt to find resolution,” Basu said. “Although the poets are from South Asia, their experiences are global experiences, and our intention is to create bridges.”

In addition to his sabbatical exhibit mentioned earlier, Matson Lume collaborated with three alumni and artists over his 2025-25 sabbatical to publish “at the fountain, at the fountain,” a free artists’ book that features their art and texts. Two book launches will be held this fall: one on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2 to 5 p.m., at FOGSTAND Gallery & Studio, in St. Paul, Minnesota; and another on Thursday, Nov. 6, 4 to 5:30 p.m., at North Shore Readers and Writers Festival at the Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, Minnesota.

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25

Celebrating a shared commitment and love of making art within community

University Theatre

University Theatre will present “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again],” led by Director Audric Buhr, at Harvey Hall Theatre.

Performance dates and times are:

Thursday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2 p.m.

Fast-paced, witty, physical and full of laughter, this is one of the world ��. most frequently produced plays and features all 37 of Shakespeare ��. plays, performed in under 100 minutes.

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Musical performances

Blue Devil Jazz Orchestra directed by James Anderson: Saturday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m., in the Memorial Student Center ballrooms. Come swing in the Big Apple, as the orchestra takes you from 42nd and Harlem to Times Square, and beyond, featuring music by Charles Mingus, George Gershwin, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and more.
Stout Choirs, directed by Jerry Hui: Sunday, Nov. 16, 2 p.m., in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. “Colorful Voices” will be a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the School of Art & Design. Music will focus on the metaphor and power of color, featuring a variety of musical styles from romantic Renaissance madrigals to empowering spirituals.
The Symphonic Band, under Director Erika Svanoe, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2 p.m., in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. “Music in Motion” will feature music about various kinds of transportation, including songs from “The Polar Express” and Rossano Galante ��. “Sailing with Whales.”

Tickets will be available at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Community

All Community News

With WIAC trophy in hand, Blue Devils hockey team readies for postseason run

After first-ever outright regular season title, ‘calm and composed’ squad aims for conference tourney, potential NCAA trip

February 25, 2026

Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��

Engineering, technical, design competitions prepare young people for future careers

February 25, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

Community invited to exhibitions, lectures and discussions, readings and performances Hannah Niswonger, SOAD Visiting Artist at Furlong Gallery

University Marketing

Year of Design

A year of events highlighting the innovation, leadership, and impact at the heart of everything we do as Wisconsin's ��.

School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary

Search Keywords: Year of DesignSchool of Art & Design 60th AnniversaryFurlong GalleryCenter for Applied Ethics

Hero Caption: Professor Charles Matson Lume ��. Sabbatical Exhibition, “becoming I, I say You (for Martin Buber),” is in the Furlong's North Gallery.

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Celebrating 60 years: School of Art & Design hosts anniversary events Oct. 10-11

goersab — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 16:19:22 +0000

Celebrating 60 years: School of Art & Design hosts anniversary events Oct. 10-11goersab September 23, 2025

Year of Design highlights AI innovations, alumni leadership, student success

Abbey Goers

�� invites alumni, students, and community and industry supporters to join the School of Art & Design as it celebrates six decades of imagination, innovation and inspiration.

The School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary – “Honoring the Past, Forging the Future” – will be held Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11. Registration is required for the free event.

The anniversary celebration is part of the university ��. Year of Design, with events that highlight the innovation, leadership and impact central to Wisconsin ��. �� – from industry experts on artificial intelligence to student engineering capstones, applied research in science and human sciences, to fashion shows and game design expos.

The biannual Stout Game Expo is western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.

The evolution of a creative, scholarly and collaborative community

School of Art & Design Director Aaron Durst is looking forward to a gathering that brings alumni and students together to celebrate their shared experience of being at �� and being Blue Devils.

“The School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary is an opportunity to look back and look forward; to see where our accomplishments and hard work have brought us and the possibilities that lie ahead,” he said. “I hope alumni can see how the spaces have changed, the work our students are currently doing, and feel a continued connection. At the same time, it is an opportunity for our current students to be inspired and to lead them in new creative directions.”

Students restore and refinish an 1855 antique wooden spinning wheel. Photo circa 1953.

A snippet from �� . 1965 Tower Yearbook recognized the university ��. then-new art major as a means to not only greatly strengthen the university ��. academic offerings, but also to “add new breadth and depth to the traditional majors of industrial arts and home economics, especially in the general area of design.”

Art offerings at �� grew from that single degree into one of the largest public art and design schools in the Midwest.

Accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design, SOAD offers bachelor ��. 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; and an M.F.A. in design.

Animation students collaborate with kindergartners to design 3D-modeled characters.

As the longest-serving faculty member currently in the School of Art & Design, Professor Bryan Ritchie, chair of the visual and performing arts department, has been privileged to spend 26 years bearing witness to the evolution of the institution, he said.

“Starting in 1999, I taught along with the core founders of the art and design department, who were coined the ‘Artists of the Menomonie Phenomenon’ by the Minneapolis Tribune in 1972. During those early years, I was struck by their passion for teaching, fostering a vibrant creative community, and commitment to promoting the value of art and design. Fast forward a few years, and there have been many changes,” Ritchie said.

“We evolved. We have grown. Yet, amidst all this change, one thing has remained constant: the School of Art & Design continues to attract students and faculty who are deeply committed to fostering a creative, scholarly and collaborative community,” Ritchie added.

Interior design students and a professor critique drafts of technical plans. Photo circa 1985.

As an alum herself, Professor Shelley Pecha, chair of the design department, is looking forward to seeing graduates from her era.

“This is a great opportunity for people to see all the positive changes the buildings and programs have gone through over the years. Our student work displays will be incredible, as always. It will be exciting to see work from the fashion students and the new illustration students. It will be a really fun event,” said Pecha, an interior design alum.

SOAD 60th Anniversary events

The two-day celebration will include several events throughout the Applied Arts building, starting with a presentation by 2018 M.F.A. design alum Andrew Murphy, the 2025 Cabot Executive-in-Residence, at 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.

A reception will follow until 8 p.m. with activities throughout the building, including:

Applied Arts and Micheels Hall buildings and studio tours
Furlong Gallery Exhibition
Gallery 209 Alumni Art Exhibition
Record SOAD memories at a StoryCorps-style booth
Help paint the 60th anniversary mural

Students curate an exhibition of historic costumes. Photo circa 1994.

Oct. 10-12 is also Stout Proud Family and Supporter Weekend, with a full lineup of events for families and supporters of first-year students.

Year of Design featured fall events

CAM-AI Speaker Series: Professor Aaron Nelson: Monday, Sept. 29, 5 p.m. Nelson, professor of digital design at State University of New York at New Paltz, will lead a lecture.
CAM-AI Speaker Series: Innovative Polymer 3D-Printed Fixtures & Tooling: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. Allen Kreemer, manager of Performance Partnerships, Auto Segment at Stratasys, will present as part of the West Central Wisconsin Manufacturing and Workforce Summit.
Cabot Executive-in-Residence keynote address: Thursday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m. Andrew Murphy, head of Corporate Engagement Strategy at Apple Retail, will present “Designed to Influence.”
Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering Capstone Presentations: Monday, Dec. 8, 10:10 a.m. Students will present the results of their capstone projects to industry partners, faculty and peers.
Stout Game Expo Fall 2025: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m. Game design and development programs present western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
CSTEMM Expo: Thursday, Dec. 11, 1 p.m. A showcase of class projects and research from the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.
SOAD Senior Show Fall 2025: Friday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m. Celebrate graduating seniors’ art and design in exhibits throughout Micheels Hall and the Applied Arts building.

Fashion design senior capstone collections light up the runway at WEAR Fashion Show.

Year of Design featured spring events

Fashion Without Fabric 2026: Saturday, April 11, 7 p.m. An annual sellout, this is the Midwest ��. premier unconventional fashion runway show.
WEAR Fashion Show 2026: Saturday, May 2, 4 p.m. View the future of fashion as innovative, senior capstone collections light up the runway.
Research Day 2026: Tuesday, May 5. Celebrate the works of students, faculty, and staff from all fields through posters, exhibits, and visual art and design displays.
Stout Game Expo Spring 2026: Thursday, May 7, 6 p.m. Game design and development programs present western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
SOAD Senior Show Spring 2026: Friday, May 8, 6 p.m. Celebrate graduating seniors’ art and design in exhibits throughout Micheels Hall and the Applied Arts building.
4th Annual Unspooled Film & Animation Festival: Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m. The inspiring festival is dedicated to showcasing the very best in independent filmmaking.
Murals in Menomonie featuring the Walldogs: Wednesday, June 24, to Sunday, June 28. A collaborative group of community organizations will host this one-of-a-kind event, featuring some of the world ��. best mural artists.

Students from across disciplines learn the latest skills in animation technology in the Motion Capture Studio.

School of Art & Design

All School of Art & Design News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Year of Design highlights AI innovations, alumni leadership, student success SOAD Senior Show

University Marketing

Year of Design

A year of events highlighting the innovation, leadership, and impact at the heart of everything we do as Wisconsin's ��.

School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary

Search Keywords: Year of DesignSchool of Art and Design 60th Anniversary

Hero Caption: As the School of Art & Design celebrates its 60th anniversary, this story features just a handful of its photos from over the years.

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25

goersab — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 13:30:00 +0000

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25goersab September 16, 2025

Celebrating a shared commitment and love of making art within community

Abbey Goers

As Wisconsin ��. ��, �� emphasizes lifelong applied learning for its students and faculty alike, including promoting excellence in teaching and research through sabbaticals.

Sabbaticals enable recipients to engage in intensive study to become more effective teachers and scholars and to enhance their services to the university.

During his 2024-25 sabbatical, studio art Professor Charles Matson Lume held solo exhibitions and artist talks across the country. Through a 2025 Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individual grant, Matson Lume collaborated with three artists: �� alums Darren Tesar (’08), Galilee Peaches (’18), and Beck Slack (’21) to publish “at the fountain, at the fountain,” a free artists' book that features their art and texts.

Two book launches will be held this fall:

Saturday, Oct. 4, 2 to 5 p.m.: FOGSTAND Gallery & Studio, in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Thursday, Nov. 6, 4 to 5:30 p.m.: North Shore Readers and Writers Festival at the Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, Minnesota.

Professor Charles Matson Lume collaborated with three artists to create 'at the fountain, at the fountain,' a free artists' book / Charles Matson Lume

As a visual artist, one of the mediums that Matson Lume uses is light. His investigation into light started with painting. Like Giorgio Morandi, an Italian painter and printmaker of the early- to mid-1900s, Matson Lume noticed the objects he painted could speak.

“Their ‘thingliness’ and sense of light liberated something ineffable and true,” he said. “Over time, I realized each thing had its own image — its shadow. I didn’t need to paint the thing; it had its own painting it carried around with it.”

Matson Lume began to experiment with the “object/image relationship.” By using translucent and semi-translucent objects, such as plastic sheeting or fabric, illuminated under the right conditions, he created shadows that became more present than the objects themselves.

Professor Charles Matson Lume uses light to show an object's image and shadow / Charles Matson Lume

“A major shift happened in 2008 when I began to place objects on the floor and had their image arise via light ��. reflection or refraction,” said Matson Lume, who has been teaching studio art at �� since 2001. “Another fulcrum of my art is poetry. I not only read it to my students at the beginning of every class, but use it to find ways to release something unknown or distinct in my art.”

‘lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)’

Matson Lume's solo exhibitions during his sabbatical included two showings of “lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)” at the Minneapolis Institute of Art; and at the Jack Olson Gallery in the School of Art & Design, at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, where he also held an artist talk entitled “that which you fear.”

The installation for “lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)” was based on using light, poetry, beauty and mortality to engage in the common and uncommon, Matson Lume said in his artist ��. statement. It was dedicated to Sobin, a poet and a mentor to the artist.

“The exhibit invited viewers to reflect on the interplay of presence and absence, the ephemeral nature of light, and the poetic resonance of space,” he said. With his art, he tries to give people the space to feel like themselves and to feel their senses and the world again.

'lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)' at the Minneapolis Institute of Art / Charles Matson Lume

He held a second artist talk, “Flowers Before Bread,” at Bloedel Reserve, in Bainbridge Island, Washington, where he was artist-in-residence, as well as at Grand Marais Art Colony, in Grand Marais, Minnesota.

He is the recipient of the international 2025 Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant and the 2025-26 McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship, a major regional art award.

View the Minneapolis Institute of Art ��. YouTube video capturing the exhibit.

Bringing images and texts together

Working on “at the fountain, at the fountain” for nearly a year brought Matson Lume, Tesar (who also serves as program director of �� . studio art and arts administration and entrepreneurship programs), Peaches, and Slack together and challenged their ideas and beliefs. A group exhibition will be held at FOGSTAND in spring 2026 to celebrate their shared commitment and love of making art within community.

Professor Charles Matson Lume begins each of his studio art classes by reading a selection of poetry

“While Darren and I live in St. Paul, Peaches lives in Brooklyn, New York, and Beck lives in Glasgow, Scotland. It ��. truly an international collaboration,” Matson Lume said. “Although I have made four artist books over the last decade, I have never made one with three visual artists, let alone with three former students. I am very excited about this collaboration and believe it will provide future vitality for all.”

Though their images and texts vary widely, they are held together through mutual conceptual and formal considerations.

“It is an honor to see their artistic maturation flourish. As much as I have helped to shape my former students’ artistic sensibilities, I look forward to how their art and ideas will recalibrate mine. I am inspired by their insights, wit and poetic sensibilities. I love working with them,” Matson Lume said.

�� . School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. 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, as well as an M.F.A. in design.

School of Art & Design

All School of Art & Design News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Celebrating a shared commitment and love of making art within community Charles Matson Lume sabbatical story

University Marketing

School of Art & Design

We guide aspiring artists and designers to build theoretical and practical foundations, and encourage personal development in art, design, and the humanities.

Hero Caption: A detail of Professor Charles Matson Lume's art installation 'lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)' at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Charles Lume

Full Name: Charles Lume

Job Title: Professor of Art

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Art Painting Drawing Installation Art Professional Practices

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Visual & Performing Arts Department

Curriculum Vitae: Charles Lume CV (274.45 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Painting/Drawing

University: University of Wisconsin- Madison

Degree: M.A. Painting/Drawing

University: University of Wisconsin- Madison

Degree: B.A. Psychology

University: Wheaton College

CACHSS SOAD

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

More than 300 youths from around the Midwest discover career paths at �� summer camps

goersab — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

More than 300 youths from around the Midwest discover career paths at �� summer campsgoersab July 21, 2025

Robotics, cinema students have hands-on experiences in science, engineering, animation, marketing, design

Abbey Goers

All through the summer, more than 300 elementary, middle and high school students from around the Midwest are experiencing what it ��. like to be a student at ��.

In hands-on learning lab and studio experiences led by faculty and university students, they are discovering career paths in science, technology, engineering, and art and design during �� . Summer STEAM Experience and Junior STEAM Experience.

The one- to two-week-long camps – several of them brand-new – highlight the value of creativity and critical thinking with activities in drones, genetics, construction, interior design and architecture, plastics engineering, entrepreneurship and more.

Two of the new camps for high school students – Robotics-Inspired STEAM Exploration (RISE) Camp and Unspooled Cinema Camp – introduced them not only to what a career in videography and engineering would be like but also gave them a glimpse into film festivals and youth robotics organizations.

Unspooled campers had experiences in the historic Harvey Hall Theatre, the Motion Capture Studio and video production labs. / Jonny Wheeler

“�� put together a fantastic program. As a parent, I was thrilled with the program ��. organization, communication, facilities and services. We were also thoroughly impressed with the academic portion of the camps. We recommend STEAM camps to everyone we know,” said Nicole Anspach, whose two children attended this summer.

Registration for STEAM and Junior STEAM Experience is still open for upcoming camps. STEAM students showcase their projects on the final day of camp and share critiques and ideas.

Robotics-Inspired STEAM Exploration (RISE) Camp

Meanwhile, across campus in the Jarvis Hall Science Wing, robots in various stages of development roved up and down the hall. Five teams of RISE campers were led by �� engineering technology students Holly Hultman and Payton Eskildsen, and technology education student Ryder Bendixen.

Following Robits by AndyMark kit instructions, which are similar to an advanced LEGO kit, the teams constructed and customized motorized robots with retractable arms. They used REV Hardware block-based programming and created individually designed 3D-printed claws for the arms, with a goal to design the claws better than the provided kit, said Bendixen, of Mukwonago.

RISE Robotics campers Gear Heads team members Aiden Pickard, Leo Rice and Mason Hamlin

Hultman, of St. Michael, Minnesota; and Eskildsen, of Waupaca, built the RISE curriculum and were inspired by STEPS for Girls and FIRST Tech Challenge. The camp fosters curiosity, innovation and inclusivity in STEAM. It was pilot-tested by middle and high school students from �� . First Robotics team, STORM, last spring semester.

With the help of Cassie Kopp, �� . photo and video minor adviser, the teams used Canva to craft branding and logos. They learned simple webpage development and media skills, documented their design journey with photos and videos, and created graphic designs for social media posts to market their brands.

Bendixen designed the campers’ final competition. The five teams were assigned a series of color-coded game pieces placed within a 12-by-12-foot arena. They maneuvered their robots around obstacles, using the claws to collect as many pieces as they could and then deposit the pieces in a designated bin.

The Gear Heads test their robot's movements and claw strength on a plastic block

One team, branded The Gear Heads, designed a longer claw than what the kit offered, with a goal to extend their robot ��. reach farther than the original design. They also added a scalloped design to the inner edge of the claw and an arrow-shaped point at the end for an added pincer feature.

The Gear Heads – Leo Rice from McKinley Tech High School, Aiden Pickard from Glenwood City High School, and Mason Hamlin from Grantsburg High School – tested the claws’ grip on Aiden ��. phone and recorded a short video of their success. They learned, however, that moving the robot with the programmed joystick takes a little finesse, as Aiden popped a wheely with it and the robot flipped backward.

“I really wanted to give robotics a try. I hadn’t thought about marketing before, but it ��. a valuable skill, too,” Leo said.

A second team – Terra-Bit Foundations – took on the challenge of adding color sensors to their robot, when Bendixen gave the teams the option to use more advanced programming elements. The team was Mathew Snavely from Menomonie, Henry Krall from Madison West, Henry Behnke from Eau Claire, and Jasper Gonyea from Elk Mound. They added rubber bands to the Terra-Bit ��. claws for added grip.

Terra-Bit Foundation team members Mathew Snavely, Henry Krall, Henry Behnke and Jasper Gonyea

“Hopefully, in the competition, the sensor sees the color we tell it to, and the claw recognizes which game pieces to pick up. If a different color appears in front of the sensor, it won’t detect the piece, and the claw won’t extend,” said Mathew.

This is Mathew ��. fourth summer attending a STEAM camp, but the RISE camp is his first robotics experience. “The block-based programming is paired with Java, but it ��. simpler. The visual program is easier to read than the script,” he said.

Unspooled Cinema Camp

Equipped with industry-standard tools and techniques, 10 students brought their short films to life on the big screen in the Unspooled Film & Animation Camp. The camp is inspired by �� . annual Unspooled Film and Animation Festival, a juried event featuring films and animations by regional and international independent storytellers.

Led by video production Assistant Professor Jonathan Wheeler, they began by writing narratives and learning video production fundamentals, like shooting, editing and lighting effects.

Unspooled instructor Jonny Wheeler and campers Jack Pick, Denim Schemenauer and Teddy Fountain in the Motion Capture Lab

They then planned and composed shots before stepping in front of the green screen in the Motion Capture Studio in Micheels Hall. Their films blended live action, animation, and motion graphics, and were screened on the last day of the camp.

While �� has hosted video-related STEAM camps in the past, this was the first year these camps carried the “Unspooled” name and delved so deeply into both video production and 2D animation, Wheeler said.

Wheeler aimed to get the students to think like designers who would learn the technical skills needed to pursue a creative process rather than simply waiting around for inspiration to strike. “Students need only a story to tell. If they have an interest in sharing their unique perspectives with an audience, then we can help them craft an engaging story. I want them to make a thing they can take with them,” and potentially enter a film festival, Wheeler said.

Unspooled campers used industry-standard tools to produce their short films / Jonny Wheeler

“I want Stout to be a place that generates a creative community,” he added. And a creative community coalesced among the Unspooled camp participants.

Teddy Fountain, from Chicago, worked with two other students on a comedic short called “Hamster War,” in which an owner ��. failure to feed his pets leads to dire consequences. Fountain said he enjoyed learning about “the beginning processes of coming up with an idea, and also how to use professional software,” such as Adobe Premiere and Toon Boom.

“They have really nice tech in the room,” added Denim Schemenauer, from Eau Claire, who was collaborating on the film with Fountain and Jack Pick, also of Eau Claire. “I’ve never drawn on a tablet used for drawing, which is really nice.”

Unspooled campers learned about lighting effects and techniques. / Jonny Wheeler

Elsewhere in the lab, another trio worked on a short film called “Panic Attack,” which interpreted its title with a blend of moody live-action and animation featuring shadowy, silhouetted creatures.

One of the “Panic Attack” filmmakers, Asher Angus-Huebner from Eau Claire, attended a different STEAM camp at �� the previous summer. This year, Angus-Huebner signed up for Unspooled to explore her artistic interests. “I want a career in art, I just don’t know what my thing is yet,” she said. “I’ve been wanting to try animation because I think it ��. just such an interesting and unique thing.”

One of her collaborators, Emily Paul, from Germantown, had a similar goal for the camp. “I know I want to do something with art, but there are multiple fields that involve art, and I just want to narrow it down,” she said.

Unspooled campers learned about sound production. / Jonny Wheeler

�� . STEAM camps are sponsored by the Menomonie, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire school districts; Parker; and the Xcel Energy Foundation, in partnership with Continuing Education and Conferences, a unit of Ed ucational Pathways and Outreach.

�� Athletics is offering multiple summer youth sports camps led by university coaches, staff and student athletes. Camps include basketball, football, flag football, gymnastics, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, track, volleyball and dance.

Stout Adventures’ Youth Climbing League offers introductory activities, designed to empower kids ages 6 to 12. Experienced instructors lead activities for all skill levels. An upcoming session is scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will be held from July 22 to Aug. 27.

Community

All Community News

With WIAC trophy in hand, Blue Devils hockey team readies for postseason run

After first-ever outright regular season title, ‘calm and composed’ squad aims for conference tourney, potential NCAA trip

February 25, 2026

Career-connected learning: SkillsUSA brings nearly 400 middle, high school students to ��

Engineering, technical, design competitions prepare young people for future careers

February 25, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

Robotics, cinema students have hands-on experiences in science, engineering, animation, marketing, design STEAM Camp, RISE Robotics

University Marketing

High School STEAM Summer Camps

Inspiring and engaging STEAM camps for students entering grades 9-12

Search Keywords: STEAM CampJunior STEAM CampRISE RoboticsUnspooled

Hero Caption: RISE Robotics campers, Terra-Bit Foundations team members, Henry Behnke and Jasper Gonyea adjust the claw on their robot

Tiffany Hoage

As the Youth Program Manager at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, Wisconsin ��. ��, I design and lead initiatives that help young learners discover their strengths, spark curiosity, and see themselves as innovators and problem-solvers.

Through programs such as STEAM summer camps, FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), SkillsUSA, and Science Olympiad, students explore emerging fields, build technical and transferable skills, and gain confidence in their academic and career pathways.

By collaborating with faculty, student leaders, PK-12 and higher education partners, industry, and youth-serving organizations, I help expand access to high-impact experiences that develop future-ready talent and strengthen communities.

If you are interested in partnering, I welcome the opportunity to connect and explore how we can create meaningful impact together.

Bio Introduction: Youth Program Manager at UW–Stout collaborating with schools, industry, and community partners to advance PK-12 career exploration and workforce readiness.

Full Name: Dr. Tiffany Hoage

Job Title: Youth Program Manager

Include in Directory: Yes

Department: Continuing Education & Conferences

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Biomedical Sciences

University: Mayo Clinic Graduate School

Degree: Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.S. Applied Science (Laboratory Management)

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Continuing Ed Web Production CSTEMM

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Scott Revoir

Full Name: Scott Revoir

Job Title: Assoc. Director of Continuing Education and Conferences

Include in Directory: Yes

Department: Continuing Education & Conferences

Education:

Continuing Ed

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at ��

giffeyt — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:14:06 +0000

Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at �� giffeyt July 15, 2025

Pros from Sherwin-Williams, Red Wing Shoe among presenters at fourth annual conference

Tom Giffey

More than 200 design professionals – many of them alumni working at prominent firms around the Upper Midwest – came to the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus recently for the fourth annual Design Wisconsin event.

�� – which has the only industrial design program in Universities of Wisconsin and is home to one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest – created Design Wisconsin to celebrate the impact of industrial design and fashion design on Wisconsin ��. culture, commerce, community and brand.

Even though �� is Design Wisconsin ��. founding organization, May 16-18 was the first time the event was brought to campus. Past hosts include Milwaukee Tool in Milwaukee, Trek in Waterloo, and DELVE in Madison. Bringing the event to Menomonie this year provided an opportunity to highlight the �� campus as well as showcase more student work, said Professor Jennifer Astwood, B.F.A. industrial and product design program director.

In addition to keynote presentations by numerous professionals, most of them �� alumni, Design Wisconsin included student portfolio review sessions, product showcases, panel discussions, networking opportunities and workshops.

Design Wisconsin benefits both students and professionals, Astwood said. “To me it was important that people not just hear about the companies, but also about some meaningful topics that speak to the industry at large,” she said. For example, one presentation from Matthew Gueller of Milwaukee Tool and Gregor Mittersinker of Loft Design focused on the use of artificial intelligence in the design process.

Also new this year was a panel discussion featuring talent from several companies – including Trek, Polaris and Ashley Furniture Industries – which focused on navigating the industry.

Next year, Design Wisconsin will once again be held off-campus: It ��. slated for Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh.

�� alum Kiki Redhead, global CMF and trend manager for Sherwin-Williams, was among the industry leaders at Design Wisconsin.

Exploring Color, Material, Finish

Several Design Wisconsin sessions focused on an area of industrial design known as CMF – color, material and finish – a cross-disciplinary approach that addresses the visual and tactile nature of products.

Among the CMF presenters was 2002 UW-stout alumnus Kiki Redhead, global CMF and trend manager for Sherwin-Williams. She described CMF as crossing boundaries between industrial design, graphic design, interior design, textile design and more. Design Wisconsin allowed �� students to network with professionals who work in the field, she noted.

“The students had an opportunity to find out what it really means to have a job where you actually develop color every day or develop different materials or create new finishes from scratch,” said Redhead, who leads Sherwin-Williams’ DesignHouse, a collaborative space in Minneapolis for the company and its industrial clients.

Before she was a leader in the industry, Redhead was a �� undergraduate who gained invaluable skills as an apprentice interior designer for a commercial construction company. “That really gave me a lot of real-world experience, and it was where I really started to apply color to projects and seeing them come to fruition,” she said.

As a professional, Redhead developed and trademarked her own trend methodology, and for a decade operated her own global trend agency, creating colors for everything from cars to cabinetry to cosmetics packaging to clothing. In 2018, she took her current job with Sherwin-Williams, where she combines qualitative and quantitative data to create eye-popping colors and finishes for customers.

Trek was one of the Wisconsin-based firms that took part in Design Wisconsin at ��.

Developing a ‘manufacturing mindset’

Among Redhead ��. DesignHouse colleagues and fellow Design Wisconsin speakers is Brynn Wildenauer, a 2018 B.F.A. industrial design graduate who is now a senior architectural color designer for Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings. That division creates coatings used on appliances, metal building materials and other architectural products. In practice, this means that Wildenauer develops colorful coatings for everything from agricultural buildings to skyscrapers to sports stadiums: One of her most notable projects was working on a color-shifting effect pigment that gives a pearlescent sheen to the exterior of the Kai Tak Sports Park, a massive $4 billion complex that opened this year in Hong Kong.

Wildenauer said her �� education, which included an internship at Ashley Furniture Industries where she saw her designs prototyped, prepared her well for her career. “I really liked having that hands-on approach, and that helped me develop a manufacturing mindset,” she said.

In particular, Wildenauer recalls developing a keen interest in CMF after Professor Erik Evensen wrote that her “color sense seemed promising” on a mid-program review. “I really leaned into that, diving down into the materials that are chosen and why,” she said.

“I find that there are so many opportunities to make a statement with color, textures, finishes, etc.,” she continued. “When color is used in an intentional way, it can increase brand recognition by 80%, which demonstrates the impact of color.”

Wildenauer said she enjoyed returning to campus, something she does periodically as a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the industrial design program. “It ��. really cool to see how important this event is to all the students and those who have graduated from Stout or are heavily involved in Stout ��. programs,” she said.

�� alum Noah Anderson, senior footwear designer at Red Wing Shoe Company, took part in a keynote presentation at Design Wisconsin.

Bridging the gap between design fields

Noah Anderson, a 2013 industrial and product design alum and a senior footwear designer at Red Wing Shoe Company, was one of three alumni working at Red Wing who spoke at the conference. The trio, which included product developer Sarah Noll and pattern engineer Gina Thurk, delivered a keynote about the synergy between footwear and apparel at the Minnesota-based company. Designing shoes bridges the gap between industrial design and apparel design, as well as between what retailers term “soft goods” and “hard goods,” Anderson said.

Anderson said he was impressed to see how �� . design programs are preparing students for such collaborations in the professional world. “I felt encouraged to see specifically how apparel and industrial design were sharing a little bit more of a presentation at Senior Show,” he said. “It was really awesome to interact with students and to see the way that they are interacting with trends in the digital world as well.”

Anderson said he was well-served by his �� education when he began work at Red Wing Shoes in 2014. “I felt very prepared to present ideas, to be in front of the product team and embrace critique,” he said. “Going through the process of design was something I was really familiar with by the time I finished the industrial design program.”

In his career at Red Wing Shoes, Anderson has designed products for several of the historic Minnesota-based company ��. brands.

“It ��. always a new challenge,” Anderson said. “Every project includes new research, new trends and learning about new materials, which I feel like is really the source of what ��. interesting about designing for industry in general.”

School of Art & Design

All School of Art & Design News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Pros from Sherwin-Williams, Red Wing Shoe among presenters at fourth annual conference Design Wisconsin 2025 portfolio review

University Marketing

Design Wisconsin

Showcasing the impacts of industrial and product design on Wisconsin's culture, commerce, community, and brand.

Search Keywords: Design WisconsinWisconsin industrial design Wisconsin fashion designWisconsin product design

Hero Caption: Design professionals offered their thoughts about �� students' work during a Portfolio Review at the Design Wisconsin event.

Jennifer Astwood

Teaching Interests: DES 331 – ID3: Product Interface Design (2 sections) DES 231 – ID2: Ergonomics DES 205 – Design Drawing and Concept Visualization ART 256 – Slip-Casting for Designers and Artists DES 231 – ID1: Product Form and Visualization DES 333 – Professional Practice DES 405 – Advanced Presentation Techniques DES 431 – System, Environment, and Context DES 432 – Theory, Society, and Application DES 712 – Sustainable Design Practice SUST 432/632 – Global Sustainability Experience in Design & Manufacturing

Professional Interests: Skills: Creative Problem-Solving Freehand Sketching/Rendering Sketch Model Making Project Management Sewing

Full Name: Jennifer Astwood

Job Title: Associate Dean / Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Industrial Design Product Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Jennifer Astwood CV (48.23 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Art & Design

University: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

University: Art Center at Night

Degree: B.F.A. Industrial Design

University: University of Illinois Chicago

CACHSS Web Production

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with murals

goersab — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with muralsgoersab July 7, 2025

Art installations in Italy, Minnesota bring communities together

Abbey Goers

Two �� students – Allison Seanor and Megan McDowell – recently completed two murals, half a world apart. Their public installations celebrate how art brings communities together, creating vibrant and welcoming spaces.

Seanor, an art education major from Wausau, studied abroad at Accademia Italiana in Florence, Italy, last spring. She participated in a city-wide mural festival with her artwork entitled “To Travel is to Understand.”

McDowell, an animation and digital media major from Albertville, Minnesota, was commissioned by Koala Dental Care in St. Cloud, to create a multi-wall-to-wall mural for the office ��. reception area.

Megan McDowell's mural for Koala Dental Care combines popular visuals of Minnesota with dental care objects. / Megan McDowell

‘To Travel is to Understand’

Seanor ��. mural “To Travel is to Understand” is part of Florence ��. annual Palazzuolo Strada Aperta festival, which invites national and international street artists to work with residents to revitalize the city center through art.

Allison Seanor (right) and her teacher Maria Antonietta / Allison Seanor

Her approximately 8-by-8-foot mural is painted on a retractable metal shutter at Via Palazzuolo 76 red. When shops along Via Palazzuolo close their shutters for the evening, the street turns into an art gallery. The street, close to Santa Maria Novella Square, is seeking to revive its historical artisan character and support the local economy.

Seanor ��. mural reflects on the impact of mass tourism on Florence, as seen through the eyes of an American student.

“It is a message of unity and shared respect, a reminder to travelers that to truly experience a place you must appreciate it, learn from it, connect with it, reflect on it and understand it,” Seanor said.

It is also a message to Florentines, acknowledging the challenges that tourism can bring, while offering a heartfelt reassurance: “Many of us arrive with a deep admiration for this extraordinary city and a genuine desire to honor its culture, its people and its rhythms. In Florence, we can meet not as strangers, but as human beings moved by beauty, history and respect,” Seanor added.

At the heart of the painting is a portrait of Seanor ��. Italian teacher, Maria Antonietta, who motivated Seanor to do her best inside and outside of class. “Maria was my inspiration. She is a world traveler and beautiful soul, and she symbolizes the desire to learn no matter where you go,” she said.

She was also influenced by her own observations of the city. “Others might say it ��. bold to comment on tourism within art, when you yourself are an American. However, my goal was to hopefully close the gap between tourists and locals in Florence,” Seanor said.

“I’m very happy with the results of this mural, with how colorful it is and how it turned out physically, but also with how it changed me as a person,” she added. “I believe this mural and studying abroad have helped me really push myself to try to achieve more, and that is something I am really proud of. It ��. not so easy to leave your comfort zone to try to reach your goals, but when you do, it ��. extremely rewarding.”

“To Travel is to Understand” is visible and geolocated on the Street Art of Florence map on Google Maps.

An engaging, abstract collage for kids and families

McDowell ��. Koala Dental Care mural was commissioned by the owner through McDowell ��. aunt, who is a dentist in the office. “I am very grateful I had an inside connection and was able to jumpstart a new passion of mine,” she said.

Megan McDowell's mural is an abstract collage of hidden objects, meant to engage children in the office's reception area / Megan McDowell

Within the mural design, Koala asked McDowell to combine popular visuals of Minnesota with dental care objects. “These are two completely different topics, so to combine them into one cohesive design, I had to be creative. I combined the ideas in an almost abstract way to create a collage of hidden things. I added a lot of motion and fluidity into the design, making it engaging for kids at the office to look at,” she said.

McDowell had always wanted to learn about the process behind creating a mural, and two courses at �� provided her with that knowledge. Within the Digital Illustration course, McDowell worked with a group of her peers to create a mural design for �� . School of Art and Design. It portrayed humanoid characters interacting with elements of art and design – film, ceramics, video games, music, studio art and more – in purple, blue, orange, yellow and red hues.

Their design was chosen by university leadership to be completed by students in the Graffiti and Street Art summer class in 2024. McDowell enrolled in the class and helped bring her design to life, led by Professor Cynthia Bland and Lecturer Wade Lambrigtsen, owner and proprietor of Vintage Sign Shop in Menomonie. It was the third 400-square-foot, student-designed, student-painted mural on campus, located on the east loading dock of the Applied Arts Building.

Megan McDowell helped to design and paint the third mural on campus / ��

“I was inspired by the process. These courses allowed me to get experience outside of school, and I was able to use these skills to further my career and find a new passion,” she said.

“Megan ��. Koala mural is a clear connective thread between the mural production here at Stout and setting up students to become muralists out in the real world,” Bland added.

McDowell graduated this spring and is currently doing freelance work while seeking a full-time career. She wants to continue painting murals as well. “What I love most about animation and digital media is the storytelling. Storytelling through visuals is something I greatly enjoy. I want to bring other people ��. stories to life,” she said.

In summer 2026, Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, will transform and uplift the community through public art, helping make Menomonie a more joyful and vibrant place to live.

The animation and digital media program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. Art education is offered through the School of Education.

School of Art & Design

All School of Art & Design News

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Dave Beck ��. Paverson Games creates elaborate, concept-driven games with the help of other talented faculty

February 16, 2026

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

Community invited to exhibitions, civic and literary conversations, film screenings and performances

February 11, 2026

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

PC game ��. win at M+DEV expo highlights �� . globally ranked program

December 9, 2025

Art installations in Italy, Minnesota bring communities together Allison Seanor (right) and her teacher Maria Antonietta

University Marketing

Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to life

Collaborative project with kids helps build communication, 3D design skills

Runway to imagination: �� . sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias

‘Love of Books’ named scholarship winner; ‘The Prime Divine’ proves number 13 can be lucky

Search Keywords: animation and digital media degreeanimation degreeart education degreeMurals in Menomonie

Hero Caption: Allison Seanor's mural "To Travel is to Understand" was created as part of Florence, Italy ��. annual Palazzuolo Strada Aperta festival. Photo by Allison Seanor

Include in Directory: Off

Exclude from Internal Site Search: No

News

Board game renaissance: �������� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

B.S. Computer Science (Game Design & Development Concentration)

Year of Design celebration central to ��������'s spring 2026 event schedule

Fashion Without Fabric

Art & Design Exhibitions

Civic dialogue

Center for Applied Ethics

Film screening and literary discussions

University Theatre

Musical performances

Year of Design

�������� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��������. biggest game industry event

Expo showcases top-ranked program

Winning game an ‘intense experience’

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

B.S. Computer Science (Game Design & Development Concentration)

#StoutProud Alum: Andrew Murphy ('18)

Career Path & Leadership:

Stout Experience & Influence:

Personal Reflections & Giving Back:

Submit your #StoutProud Story

Cabot Executive-in-Residence Series

Design focus anchors ��������'s fall 2025 event schedule

Celebrating 60 years: School of Art & Design hosts anniversary events Oct. 10-11

Art & Design Exhibitions

Civic dialogue

Center for Applied Ethics

Literary discussions

‘Sing, Slivered Tongue’: �������� professor ��������. book of poetry is a statement of courage, hope

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25

University Theatre

Musical performances

Year of Design

School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary

Celebrating 60 years: School of Art & Design hosts anniversary events Oct. 10-11

The evolution of a creative, scholarly and collaborative community

SOAD 60th Anniversary events

Year of Design featured fall events

Year of Design featured spring events

Year of Design

School of Art & Design 60th Anniversary

Sabbatical recap: Charles Matson Lume, Studio Art, 2024-25

‘lacuna (for Gustaf Sobin)’

Bringing images and texts together

School of Art & Design

More than 300 youths from around the Midwest discover career paths at �������� summer camps

Robotics-Inspired STEAM Exploration (RISE) Camp

Unspooled Cinema Camp

High School STEAM Summer Camps

Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at ��������

Exploring Color, Material, Finish

Developing a ‘manufacturing mindset’

Bridging the gap between design fields

Design Wisconsin

Global vision, local design: �������� students transform public spaces with murals

‘To Travel is to Understand’

An engaging, abstract collage for kids and families

Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to life

Runway to imagination: �������� ��������. sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias

Board game renaissance: �� professor puts the pieces in place for successful game design business

Year of Design celebration central to ��'s spring 2026 event schedule

�� students’ submarine survival game surfaces to victory at M+DEV, the Midwest ��. biggest game industry event

Design focus anchors ��'s fall 2025 event schedule

‘Sing, Slivered Tongue’: �� professor ��. book of poetry is a statement of courage, hope

More than 300 youths from around the Midwest discover career paths at �� summer camps

Campus color: Alumni demonstrate industry leadership at Design Wisconsin event at ��

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with murals

Runway to imagination: �� . sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias