Fourth-year industrial design students met with teams from four Central Ohio-based organizations to kick-off this year’s 2026-27 Industrial Design capstone projects. A hallmark of Ohio State’s Industrial Design program, sponsored capstone projects afford students invaluable opportunities to work alongside professionals as they research and develop design proposals situated in opportunity areas identified by capstone sponsors. This year, we’re proud to announce four partnerships that are shaping the future of design in Central Ohio and beyond.

About the Capstone Experience

The Industrial Design Capstone comprises two courses—Design Research III (5201) and Advanced Industrial Design I (5101)—that guide students through a strategic design process, led this year by Assistant Professor William Nickley. From problem identification and framing to prototyping and final proposal, students work in close collaboration with sponsoring organizations to address challenges through strategic design.

Previous capstone project outcomes can be found in Ohio State Design’s Research Gallery, some of which have won high honors for undergraduate research at Ohio State as well as winning national design award in 2024 and again in 2026!

Meet Our 2025–26 Capstone Sponsors

This year’s industrial design capstone features four sponsored project areas, each offering students a unique opportunity to explore strategic design innovation in collaboration with industry and community-based leaders:

Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC

Project Theme: Explore the future of in-car connection. ⁠Honda Research & Development (based in Marysville, OH) invites students to reimagine the vehicle interior as a space for connecting families. How might design blend digital interfaces, ambient lighting, sound, and physical components to create immersive experiences for drivers and passengers? Students will have the freedom to explore diverse directions—from sensory design to speculative tech—while shaping the next generation of automotive UX. This year’s project lead for Honda is Kal Whalen, Electronics & Controls Planning & Strategy Dept.

Battelle Memorial Institute

Project Theme: Medical care in rural Ohio. The design research team at Battelle (HQ in Columbus) is at the forefront of user experience, human factors, and industrial design in the wide world of medical design. Students will be challenged to envision novel applications and uses for an innovative (often groundbreaking) technology in the medical sector. Special emphasis is placed on user involvement in the research and testing phases, with students gaining exposure to the rigorous practices and standards of the care industry.This year’s project lead for Battelle is Emma Coughlin, UX/UI Designer at Battelle, and also an alum of Ohio State’s industrial design program.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks & Watercraft

Project Theme: Shape the future of outdoor experiences. The ⁠Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks & Watercraft invites students to tackle sustainability challenges in Ohio’s public parks. With two rich themes—invasive species prevention and the Dark Sky initiative—this project offers opportunities to envision physical and digital experiences and systems that inspire visitors, protect nature, and reimagine what it means to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. This year’s project leads for ODNR are Heather Bokman, Sustainability Coordinator, and Tracey Coe, Clean Marina Coordinator.

ODNR Student Team (not pictured): Victoria D’Agostino, Pieter Mushen, Sophia Foster, Annaliese Michalski, Paul Goss

Marble Plastics

Project Theme: Circularity in Central Ohio. In partnership with Marble Plastics (HQ in Columbus) and with additional support from Neighborhood Design Center (HQ in the Weiland Park neighborhood of Columbus), the ⁠Center for Design & Manufacturing Excellence(CDME), this project invites students to explore how circular economies can transform communities in Central Ohio. From rethinking material lifecycles to designing systems that connect waste to social impact, students will prototype product-service solutions that are locally grounded and globally relevant. This is a chance to design for equity, sustainability, circularity, and resilience. This year’s project lead for Marble Plastics is Joseph Klatt, with additional support from the Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) via Lily Hurst, Lab Coordinator.

Partner with Us!

Capstone sponsors play a vital role in shaping the next generation of design leaders. By partnering with Ohio State Design, organizations gain access to a world-class design talent pipeline, engagement with top design scholars, and a fresh look into emerging areas of research. Successful capstone projects can center emerging markets, novel technology application, strategic thinking and innovation, wicked problems, tailored to an organization’s mission and vision.

We’re actively seeking new partners for future capstone cycles. If your organization is interested in sponsoring a project, please reach out to Associate Professor William Nickley at nickley.3@osu.edu.

Join Us in Celebrating Design Innovation

The 2026–27 capstone cohort is already hard at work, and we look forward to sharing their final presentations during a Spring 2027 exhibition and the 2027 Denman Undergraduate Research Forum. Stay tuned for updates and highlights from the course—and help us celebrate the power of design to shape a better future.