Fourth-year Industrial Design students Beibei Wang and Jude Gill have made significant strides in aerospace innovation as part of "The Sloopy Works" team. Partnering with the College of Engineering, they have embarked on the GoAERO (Aerial Emergency Response Operations) competition, which focuses on pioneering advancements in aerospace engineering. Their team has developed an innovative aircraft called "STUART"—an acronym for Small Transportable Uncrewed Aerial Rescue Technology.

Hand-selected from the Industrial Design program, Jude and Beibei joined a group of engineers to bring their creative expertise to the project, helping propel the team through the first stage of eliminations. Jude took charge of designing the aircraft's exterior renderings, while Beibei concentrated on the interior cabin design. Despite working on different aspects, both gained valuable experience in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Reflecting on the experience, Jude noted that working with engineers was "interesting, not difficult," as their distinct workflows and metrics required adaptation. Their contributions led to nearly 60 renderings of the aircraft design, deepening their passion for engineering-related topics and solidifying their aspirations in the field. Beibei initially had different expectations about working with engineers, influenced by her father’s background in the field. She anticipated communication barriers but was pleasantly surprised by the engineers' ability to articulate their ideas clearly. This experience has broadened her perspective and increased her confidence in future collaborations across disciplines.

Their contributions played a crucial role in the team's success, securing a spot in the second stage of the competition. Out of 200 participating teams, "The Sloopy Works" is among the 14 advancing to the next phase: prototype development. With a $28,000 grant from the GoAERO program and support from major partners such as Boeing and NASA, the team will continue refining their design.

The Ohio State University Department of Design congratulates Beibei and Jude on their outstanding achievements and looks forward to following their continued success in design and innovation.