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                Auburn University - University Relations
                            (334) 844-9999
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6/7/95                  Mitch Emmons

AU INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PROGRAM USES EXPERIENCE AS THE TEACHER

      AUBURN -- Auburn University's Department of Industrial Design is 
spreading its handiwork throughout the industrial world.
      Six electronics product designs -- each a design project by 
senior industrial design students -- were shown by Brother Corporation at 
the 1995 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
      "These are shows held by companies for potential buyers of their 
product lines," says Associate Professor Tin-Man Lau. "If a product is 
shown at this event, it definitely means that the company has faith in it."
      AU got involved with Brother through a cooperative arrangement 
last fall. 
      "They wanted us to come up with some new ideas for their product 
line," Lau said. "If they see potential in the design, they will take the 
concept and develop the actual product.
      "Many of the concepts developed by our students ultimately will 
become commercial products through these programs."
      For the students, it presents a realistic research challenge, 
said Clark Lundell, department  head.
      It is an eight-week project which requires the students to design 
the product and conduct market analyses, patent and technology searches 
and vendor surveys.
      "They have to know if the technology to support their design is 
available; if the idea is already patented; if there is a market for it," 
Lau said.
      Thirteen students participated in the project. 
      "In the beginning, Brother had said they wanted to select three 
projects from Auburn for the Las Vegas show," said Lau. "After they 
reviewed our designs, they ended up showing all 13, and asking six of the 
13 students to go out to the show."
      AU was the only university represented at the Las Vegas show, 
according to Lundell.
      "Brother was definitely pleased with our students' designs," he 
said. "We already have a letter of agreement from them to continue the 
project next year."
      The Department of Industrial Design has done similar projects 
with other industrial partners, including NASA's Marshall Space Flight 
Center in Huntsville.; General Time Inc., Atlanta; Alabama Garden Center, 
Mobile; Books-A-Million Retail Stores, Birmingham; American Mobile 
Satellite Corp., Reston, Va.; and Miltope Corp., Montgomery.
      "This kind of instruction, which is directly supported by 
industry and is aimed at meeting actual industrial needs, provides a 
practical learning experience for our students," Lundell said. 

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june95: products
CONTACT: Lundell, 334/844-2369; or Lau, 334/844-2364.