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At Thomas Jefferson University, learning is never confined to textbooks and lectures. Here, students are empowered to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty, and innovate the next big thing. Nowhere else is this more true than within the School of Design & Engineering, a division focused on conceptual thinking, design excellence, intellectual curiosity, and creative expression.
From the moment students step onto the East Falls campus in Philadelphia, they’re encouraged to think outside the box, challenge conventions, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Armed with state-of-the-art facilities and guided by expert faculty, they turn their ideas into reality while preparing for fruitful careers centered around innovation.
Tackling the fashion’s environmental toll head-on
In January 2024, students from the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce partnered with industry partners like WM (formerly Waste Management), EON (a digital ID and technology service provider), and Under Armour to spearhead innovative solutions that promote sustainability and circularity in textile systems.
The interdisciplinary project had teams of eight students from the fields of fashion design, textile design, textile product science, textile technology, visual communication design, and fashion merchandising and management. Their focus? Implementing “digital tagging” on garments, providing transparency and vital information about sourcing, production, and environmental impact.
“Fashion is often seen as a glamorous industry but its environmental toll is immense,” says Jaida Perkins, a textile product science student concentrating on sports and high-performance materials. “Our project is about redefining fashion’s footprint and paving the way for a more sustainable future.”
By integrating smart bins in residential areas, Perkins and her team aim to incentivize clothing recycling, reducing waste and fostering a culture of sustainability. Their vision extends to industries like sports and fashion, offering practical solutions for companies committed to recycled materials.
“It’s not just about using eco-friendly fabrics,” shares teammate and textile technology student Priscilla Boydston. “It’s about addressing every stage of the textile lifecycle, from raw materials to production, distribution, and consumer behavior.”
Teams gained valuable insights from BREEO’s in-house design staff, which include two Jefferson Industrial Design alumni: Chris Boehmer (BsID ’13) and Rick Griscom (BsID ’12). Source: Thomas Jefferson University
Crafting the next generation of outdoor cooking equipment
The Annual Industrial Design Sprint Project at Jefferson is a hallmark event, showcasing the prowess of Industrial Design students. This year, students of all levels were divided into cross-year teams (freshmen through graduate students) to work alongside industry leader BREEO Smokeless Fire Pits on a week-long intensive. Their task was conceptualizing and creating a new generation of BREEO cooking equipment for open-fire food preparation.
The students started by looking into international influences, drawing inspiration from diverse cuisines to appeal to various demographics. Benefiting from face-to-face sessions with BREEO’s design team, including Jefferson industrial design alumni, they immersed themselves in the company’s unique design process. Guided by faculty, they conducted research and ideation, receiving feedback midway and upon completion. The outcome was innovative product designs spanning tandoori cuisine to gaucho-style steaks, each reflecting real-world constraints and deadlines.
For over two decades, the Industrial Design Sprint Project has bridged the gap between academia and industry at Jefferson, equipping students with tangible portfolio projects and invaluable skills for their future careers.
By the Book’s neutral color scheme ensures visual consistency, while Ultimate Atlas adopts a sleek monochromatic indigo theme with vibrant yellow accents. Source: Thomas Jefferson University
Navigating the complexities of user interface design
In the Visual Communication Design program’s spring semester, sophomores refine their understanding of typographic principles through the Advanced Typography course. They take on intricate challenges through a series of printed and digital projects. Last year’s project saw them creating the interface for a mobile tracking or task-based application for iOS — from the home screen to task/tracking screens and beyond.
Accomplishing this demands a synthesis of various design elements — imagery, iconography, typography, color theory, and interactivity — into a cohesive and intuitive system. Success in this endeavor hinges on a designer’s ability to seamlessly blend these elements to create an app or website that is not only functional but also visually engaging, efficient, and user-friendly. In true Jefferson fashion, several of its students knocked the project out of the park.
Joelle Klouda drew ideas from her time on the Jefferson University Ultimate Frisbee team to create “Ultimate Atlas,” an intuitive tournament planning app. Designed to simplify the often chaotic process of organizing tournaments, Ultimate Atlas allows teams to discover, register for, and manage tournament details easily, all while easing communication with other teams. It even lets users track their team’s game scores and other relevant information.
Meanwhile, Emma Prushan developed “By the Book.” The book tracking app allows users to monitor their reading progress, manage their reading lists, and explore opinions on various books, including insights from friends using the app.
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