Jacob Rynkiewicz named IDSA Graduate Student Merit Winner

In 2018 the Industrial Design Society of America announed the first annual IDSA Student Merit Award program for work at the graduate level. The IDSA Graduate SMA Winners were announced at the IDSA International Conference in New Orleans on September 22.

UIC ID MDes student, Jacob Rynkiewicz, was one of four recipients of the IDSA Graduate Student Merit Award, each representing one of four regional IDSA Districts. Commenting on the importance of design studies in a research institution, Jacob explains, “I always imagined there to be a hard line between the end of research and the beginning of the design process. [But] research doesn't have to stop when you start designing; research informs design, and design informs research.”

Jacob's IDSA award caps an unprecidented winning streak at the undergraduate level. From 2014–2016, UIC Industrial Design undergraduates were awarded what is now known as the Undergraduate IDSA Student Merit Award: Jillian Tackaberry, 2014; Rotimi Solola, 2015; Nick Savidge, 2016.

Congratulations Jacob! Congratulations UIC ID!