Students Develop Unique Concepts to Be Displayed on Eastman’s Innovation Lab
Auburn, Ala., (June 14, 2007) – For the next generation of designers, gaining real-world experience is an invaluable step in their professional development. To address this need, Eastman Chemical Company and Sheffield Plastics recently partnered with Auburn University to provide second-year design students with the opportunity to develop their own unique store fixtures. Created with VIVAK® sheet, a transparent specialty plastic product manufactured from Eastman's copolyester resin that provides optimal design versatility, the students’ projects were unveiled at a special presentation ceremony and will be displayed to the larger design community through Eastman’s online Innovation Lab (www.eastmaninnovationlab.com).
As part of the educational program, students researched trends in retail displays, keeping up-to-date on what appears in stores and where industry leaders are headed. Each student then conceptualized a mock consumer products goods company and analyzed the in-store sales and marketing needs for their business. Using this research, students developed concepts for store fixtures that could be employed in a real-world retail environment.
During the developmental stages, Eastman worked closely with students to offer workshops and seminars on designing with plastics. These educational forums were complimented by a visit to Eastman's production facility in Kingsport, Tenn., where students saw first-hand how plastic sheet is produced and learned ways in which it can be fabricated to produce retail displays. Sheffield Plastics extruded and supplied the VIVAK® sheet product, which enabled the students to work hands-on and transform their store fixture concepts into reality.
“Eastman and Sheffield provided students with a comprehensive overview of how to use specialty plastics in creative applications as well as concrete insight and critique on the design ideas showcased during student presentations," said Christopher Arnold, assistant professor, Department of Industrial Design at Auburn University. "This served not only to help students design truly innovative store fixtures, but also to bring a necessary level of industry expertise into the classroom. Durable, flexible and fabrication-friendly, the VIVAK® sheet product that Eastman and Sheffield provided is also easy to bend, route and cut, which allowed the students to construct their one-of-a-kind displays with less difficulty."
The program culminated in a formal presentation ceremony, in which 30 full-size models of the students’ works were displayed. Ranging from an organically shaped CD holder to a 6 foot tall tissue display, these projects received positive feedback from the professional designers who attended the ceremony, many of whom commented upon the students’ creative use of VIVAK sheet. Students will receive additional exposure to the design community through the Eastman Innovation Lab, an award-winning interactive online design resource, currently visited by more than 4,000 designers and brand owners from leading agencies and CPG companies.
“Today’s students are talented and have innovative ideas and solutions that will continue to drive the strength of the design industry,” said Michael Hartman, global market development manager, P-O-P and in-store fixtures and displays, Eastman. “This program reflects Eastman’s commitment to the creative necessity not only of the store fixture market but also the general design community, who plays a vital role in shaping and building brands.”
About Sheffield Plastics
Sheffield Plastics, a Bayer Material Science Company, is the global leader in high performance plastics. Sheffield continues its leadership in polycarbonate and VIVAK® technology with new processes, product innovations and superior optics. For more information, contact Sheffield Plastics, Inc. at 1-800-254-1707, fax 1-800-457-3553, visit www.sheffieldplastics.com, or write 119 Salisbury Road, Sheffield, MA 01257.
