By: Grace Kim, Industrial Design BSD 2027; William Nickley, Assistant Professor of Industrial Design

On October 27, 2025, Ohio State Design and the student chapter of Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) welcomed nearly 40 guests to their annual pumpkin carving event, hosted in the recently redesigned student space in Hayes Hall. During the first hour, while participants gutted pumpkins donated by Bergefurd’s Farm Market & Produce (Wilmington, OH), early guests could view student design work posted around design studio classrooms and hallways.

Once pumpkins and pumpkin-carvers were ready, IDSA student chapter president Will Tyrrell gave opening remarks, then handed things over to IDSA student liaison Anya Peterman, who spearheaded this year’s event. Anya thanked Columbus-area design firm Priority Designs for their generous event sponsorship as well as 2025-26 industrial design capstone sponsors Honda, Huntington Bank, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Neighborhood Design Center. Each sponsor had a design student carve them a pumpkin (featured in cover image, and in Priority Designs’ social media)!

Then, carvers were given an hour to carve, carve, carve, aiming to impress a panel of judges, Columbus-area design practitioners, hoping to land one of several superlative awards and a cash prize to the top pumpkin. 

Judging began at 7:00 p.m. While the judges deliberated, attendees socialized and enjoyed pizza, donuts, and other snacks provided by IDSA. Awards were presented for Biggest Failure, Scariest, Well-Crafted, Cutest, Funniest, Most Detailed, and Best in Show. Hannah King, a fourth-year industrial design student, received Best in Show and a gift card. 

Thanks & credits: Appreciation to the Department of Design and the IDSA OSU student chapter and board as well as our sponsors for supporting the event.