Russell Henning, a graduate from SJSU who studied industrial design, created a backpacking stove that was been selected for the BraunPrize 2007 Exhibition. The BraunPrize is one of the most prestigious international student design competitions, and Henning is the year's only U.S. finalist. He designed the stove, named the Phoenix, for a studio course taught by Associate Professor John McClusky. The stove was also named "Best of the Best" by the 2006 Red Dot Design Award competition. "Most stoves are notoriously difficult to use, but with Phoenix, set up and tear down are easy.

Steven Madsen, IDSA | Ion Design

IDSA Western District Student Merit Winner: 2010

Nate Lau
IDSA Western District Student Merit Award Winner
Art Center College of Design
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2008 Western District Student Merit Winner

After being born in Durango, CO, Gabriel Lamb embarked on an odyssey that has taken him to Australia, Brazil, Italy and South Africa. While traveling in Brazil at age 15, he had an “A-Ha” moment that presaged a career in ID.

2007 Western District Student Merit Winner

Design may or may not be a laughing matter, but when Soyun Kim sees bad design, the experience for her is just not funny. “Sometimes I see an object make a user uncomfortable, like a bad joke,” she said.

Kim is a natural problem solver who took an interest in design at an early age. “I found I was sometimes bothered by poorly designed objects and I often wondered, ‘Why can't this be different?’”

Naturally, that led Kim to focus on product design and fostered a keen interest in the user experience. 

To honor the past, present and future of design in the West, we are announcing the first annual Western Honors Program. This award will honor the career of an outstanding Western designer and educator. A jury will be selected that is comprised of an educator, design consultant, corporate design leader, and IDSA board member. Noted designer and educator Michael McCoy will be serving on the jury this year. This is an opportunity to recognize the great talent that Western Design represents.

2009 Western District Student Merit Winner (Arizona State University)

As a high school student, Lavion Gibson competed on the football and lacrosse fields. He ran track, too. He was, by all counts, an athlete. He was also a self-described “geek.” “I had an interest in design from an early age,” Gibson said. “I was always sketching and doodling and trying to figure out how things work.”