Jacquelyn Koyen, Senior CMF Designer, Spectrum Brands
Michael Leighton, Director of Industrial Design, CMF & Sculpting, Polaris
Katie Mubita, Senior CMF Designer, Harley Davidson
Kiki Redhead, Global CMF & Trend Manager, Sherwin-Williams
- More TBA!
Join Us for Design Wisconsin 2025!
May 16-18, 2025
University of Wisconsin-Stout
302 10th Ave E, Menomonie, WI 54751
Celebrate Wisconsin's Legacy of Industrial Design and Fashion Design Innovation & the Impact of Stout Alumni Designers
UW-Stout's School of Art & Design presents the 4th Annual Design Wisconsin event showcasing the impacts of industrial design and fashion design on Wisconsin's culture, commerce, community, and crand—past, present, and future. And this year, we're expanding to include UW-Stout alumni designers' impact in our neighboring state to the west, Minnesota!
It is a little-known secret that Wisconsin is a hub for product innovation, and it's our mission to showcase and celebrate prominent Wisconsin-based industrial design and fashion design teams and their work. We hope this format will inspire participants and strengthen connections within these industry communities, as well as cultivate new ones!
The event includes an open house of major Wisconsin and Minnesota Design/Manufacturer groups. In the past, these have included TREK, Milwaukee Tool, Kohler, Mercury Marine, Polaris, Fiskars, Oshkosh and many more.
This is a FREE event on May 17-18, 2024 at Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, UW-Stout
Featured Speakers
Event Schedule
Saturday, May 17
8:00 a.m. | Design & Product Showcase and Networking
9:00 a.m. | Welcome & Remarks
9:30 a.m. | Keynote I
- Michael Leighton, Director of Industrial Design, CMF & Sculpting, Polaris
11:00 a.m.-Noon | Student Portfolio Review
1:00 p.m. | Keynote II
1:45 p.m. | Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Design Process
2:45 p.m. | Design Panel: TBD
3:30 p.m. | Merit Award Presentation
5:00 p.m. | Food Trucks & Entertainment
Sunday, May 18
8:00 a.m. | Breakfast & Colors, Materials, Finish (CMF) Talk: "From Industrial to Color, Material, & Finish"
- Katie Mubita, Senior CMF Designer, Harley Davidson
- Jacquelyn Koyen, Senior CMF Designer, Spectrum Brands
9:30 a.m. | CMF Workshop
- Kiki Redhead, Global CMF & Trend Manager, Sherwin-Williams
11:30 a.m. | Employer Lunch w/ Career Services
Participating Organizations
The real stars of the show will be the Wisconsin-based Industrial Design teams in attendance to display their works and talk shop! Design Wisconsin is current confirmation participating organizations. Don't get left out of the show. Contact us to be a featured vendor!
Additional Information for Attendees
Travel & Transportation
Air Travel
Menomonie is located in Western Wisconsin. The nearest airports are Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) in Eau Claire.
Transportation
- Shuttle Service: Groome Transportation provides shuttle services between MSP airport or EAU airport and Menomonie. Shuttles stop at the AmericInn in Menomonie, WI as well.
- Local Transportation: More details to come!
Hotel Accommodations
Cobblestone Inn & Suites Menomonie
149 Main Street E.
Menomonie, WI 54751
Learn More
- Rate: $145.10 per night + 8% sales and occupancy tax
- Distance to UW-Stout: 2 min. walk
- Parking: Free onsite parking at the hotel for the duration of your stay
Best Western Plus Inn & Suites Menomonie
320 Oak Avenue
Menomonie, WI 54751
Learn More
- Rate: $139 per night + 8% sales and occupancy tax
- Distance to UW-Stout: 6 min. drive
- Parking: Free onsite parking at the hotel for the duration of your stay
Hampton Inn & Suites Menomonie
2017 Stout Street
Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751
Learn More
- Rate: $110 per night + 8% sales and occupancy tax
- Distance to UW-Stout: 8 min. drive
- Parking: Free onsite parking at the hotel for the duration of your stay
AmericInn Menomonie
425 Oak Avenue West
Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751
Learn More
- Rate: $130 per night + 8% sales and occupancy tax
- Distance to UW-Stout: 9 min. drive
- Parking: Free onsite parking at the hotel for the duration of your stay
Oaklawn Bed and Breakfast
423 Technology Drive E.
Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751
Learn More
- Distance to UW-Stout: 7 min. drive
- Parking: Free onsite parking at the hotel for the duration of your stay
- To book call Stephanie at (715)-235-6155 and mention "Polytechnic Summit" for the room block.
Gray Room (Small Double bed)
- Rate: $120–$135 per night (varies by weekday vs. weekend)
Gold Room (Double/full size bed)
- Rate: $145 - $160 per night (varies by weekday vs. weekend)
Peach Room (Double/full size bed)
- Rate: $129 - $136 per night (varies by weekday vs. weekend)
Blue Room (Double/full size bed)
- Rate $129 - $136 per night (varies by weekday vs. weekend)
Past Design Wisconsin Events
3rd Annual Design Wisconsin @ Milwaukee Tool
Featured Speakers
Tim Albrecht, Group President - Hand Tools, Storage, PPE & Channel Marketing, Milwaukee® Tool
Tim began his career at Milwaukee@ in 2007, when he accepted a Western Regional Sales position for the newly acquired Stiletto Tools business based in Winton, California. Later that year, Tim moved to Wisconsin to begin his first marketing role, where he managed Channel, Brand, and Product Marketing for Stiletto Tools. As the country moved into a recessionary period in 2008, the market for premium titanium hammers became extremely challenging. It was at that time that Tim further researched hand tools and involved a small project team to rally around disrupting a stagnant market and delivering solutions to our core users. This project led to launching the first eight (8) Milwaukee@ branded hand tools in 2010. Over the years, this small start-up category within Milwaukee@ has become larger and more complex. It now includes Hand Tools, Storage, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), with thousands of innovative products. Hundreds of dedicated employees support this business unit globally, including manufacturing sites in the USA, PRC, and Vietnam.
Wendy Gavinski, Founder & CEO, DSG Outerwear
Wendy Gavinski is the visionary founder and CEO of DSG Outerwear, a company she launched in 2010 out of a personal need for women-specific outerwear in snowmobiling and skiing. Her frustration with the limited and non-feminine options available led to the creation of DSG Outerwear, which quickly resonated with the female audience upon its debut. Wendy's entrepreneurial spirit drove the company's expansion into a comprehensive outerwear line by 2011, featuring unique designs with feminine fits and quality materials. Under her leadership, DSG secured significant distribution deals, including with Yamaha Motor Corp. and Western Power Sports. The brand diversified into hunting apparel, influenced by the successful advocacy for the Blaze Pink Bill, and later ventured into fishing and heated apparel lines. Wendy's commitment to functional, fashionable, and inclusive women's outerwear has solidified DSG Outerwear's position in the market, making it a pioneering force in women's outdoor apparel.
2nd Annual Design Wisconsin @ Trek USA
Featured Speakers
Past details will be added soon.
1st Annual Design Wisconsin @ Delve
Featured Speakers
Past details will be added soon.
