When I started this project, I didn’t think I’d end up hand-stitching a lamp. But that’s exactly what happened—and it became one of the most rewarding parts of the semester.

My name is Anna Junkin, and I’m a second-year Industrial Design (ID) student at Georgia Tech. For our Smart Products course, we were asked to identify a real-world problem and design a solution. I dove into the world of shift workers—people whose sleep cycles are flipped and whose health is often overlooked.

“I basically read a bunch of research papers,” I said. “Then I picked the topic that was most interesting to me and delved more into that.” I used sources from the Georgia Tech Library and Harvard’s online resources to explore the health impacts of disrupted circadian rhythms. That research laid the foundation for a functional prototype.

My solution was a dual-setting lamp that supports melatonin production for second and third shift workers. “You press the button and it changes the light setting,” I explained. The goal was to create an affordable and effective way to ease the challenges of night work.

Every part of this process relied on tools I’ve gained in our ID studio. From sketching and modeling to physical prototyping, I pulled from nearly every class I’ve taken so far. But the biggest surprise? How much I loved the tactile work. “I had a lot of joy in making and doing all the stitching by hand,” I shared. “It was nice to do something like that instead of something purely digital.”

When people walk through our showcase, they’re often surprised by the level of complexity in our work. But to me, that’s the point. “We’re all like kids making this stuff,” I said with a laugh. “I think it’s easier than people think. You can make cool stuff—even if you’re just a student.”

When I first started this project, I wasn’t exactly sure where it would lead—I just knew I wanted to do something different. What I ended up creating was a lamp for a sci-fi film set, built through a mix of research, trial and error, and total creative freedom.

I’m Ava Herrmann, a second-year Industrial Design student at Georgia Tech. At the beginning of our studio project, I didn’t have a specific direction. “I didn’t know what format I wanted to take with it, but I knew that I wanted to do something pretty neat,” I said.

So I started by diving into the world of makeup artists in film and TV. “A lot of it is space—space and collaboration seem to be a big struggle on set,” I explained. I imagined what kind of light fixture would blend into a high-concept sci-fi production while still serving a functional role on a makeup table. That exploration led to a sculptural, reflective light object that looks like it could live on a spaceship.

“I don’t normally work with reflective materials or play off those kinds of finishes,” I said. “So I really challenged myself more than I thought I would originally.” From sketching and 3D modeling to material selection and fabrication, this project pushed me to take risks. “It’s such a departure from what I think I would have wanted to do two years ago,” I reflected.

The Industrial Design program here at Georgia Tech gave me the tools I needed to bring it to life. “It’s a very tough program, but there’s a reason for everything,” I said. “I think a lot of the research tools they give you—especially in second year—are so helpful. I made a lot of informed decisions because of what I’ve learned in our studios.”

Even when I wasn’t sure how it would come together, I felt supported by the process. “I think there’s a lot of diversity in our program, and I really love that,” I said. “Everyone’s project looks totally different, and I think that’s because we’re taught to think independently and explore deeply.”

Physical therapy is hard enough without the confusion that comes from unclear instructions or risky movements. So I set out to design a system that could help patients heal better—and more safely.

I’m Jyotsna Bhagera, and my project this semester focused on building a smart rehab system to help patients recovering from injuries, particularly arm-related conditions like elbow strain. “This system is able to tell me when I’m correctly performing,” I explained. “It really reduces your risk of re-injury because you’re not pushing too hard or too fast.”

The system uses motion tracking and visual cues to give users real-time feedback. “Different areas have different hotspots,” I said. “If your elbow needs to move more—or less—the system knows and lets you know. That way you’re always adjusting in the moment.”

This was a highly technical build, but it was rooted in empathy. “It’s not just about the camera or the motion sensors,” I said. “It’s about how users feel when they’re recovering—are they confident, are they scared, are they supported?”

Georgia Tech’s Industrial Design program gave me everything I needed to make this possible. “We took a Smart Products class this semester, which focused on interactive models like light or motion,” I explained. “So coming into this, I knew how to program components and map movement data.”

But more than anything, it was the research mindset that grounded the project. “Everything we do is about making informed decisions,” I said. “There’s deep research involved in all of our classes—psychology, user behavior, ergonomics. That’s what helped me figure out how to make something that doesn’t just work, but works well for real people.”

This project reminded me that design isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about anticipating human needs and building something better.