College of Design at Iowa State University

This week, we are introducing our 2026–27 alumni artists-in-residence at Mainframe Studios

Today, meet Ace Kyer (integrated studio arts, ’26), whose artistic practice centers on photography and painting.

Ace’s current body of work, “What’s the word?,” brings the two mediums together through theatrical scenes that Ace constructs and photographs. The evolving series explores the unique nature of sapphic intimacy. Alongside work from the series, Ace is sharing paintings that offer a broader look at their artistic practice.

Ace and fellow artist-in-residence Ella Christensen began their yearlong residencies July 1. Made possible through a partnership between Mainframe Studios and the Department of Art and Visual Culture, the program gives recent graduates free studio space to develop their work, connect with other artists, and engage with the community.

Congratulations, Ace!

Meet our 2026–27 alumni artists-in-residence at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines!

Today, we’re proud to introduce Ella Christensen (integrated studio arts BFA, ’26).

Ella’s mixed-media practice combines painting, textiles, and photography with found and recycled materials. Through layering, reuse, and reassembly, she explores overconsumption, decomposition, and how the natural world reclaims human-made objects and spaces.

Ella and fellow artist-in-residence Ace Kyer began their yearlong residencies July 1. Made possible through a partnership between Mainframe Studios and the Department of Art and Visual Culture, the program gives recent graduates free studio space to develop their work, connect with other artists, and engage with the community.

Help us congratulate Ella and welcome her to Mainframe!

“[Iowa State’s College of Design] taught me a lot of the process of design and how to think as a true designer, and how to solve problems for consumers that I still carry with me to this day."

Collin Clough (industrial design, ’23) is putting his design education to work as a footwear designer at Tecovas. Step into Collin’s journey with this story from the Iowa State University Foundation.

A look back at this summer’s Academic Program for Excellence (APEX)!

Incoming College of Design students explored design disciplines, connected with faculty and staff, built friendships, and gained experience to help them begin their Iowa State journey with confidence.

We can’t wait to welcome them—and all our future designers—to campus soon!

Last semester, 15 industrial design students did some truly out-of-this-world work.

Through a collaboration with the ISU College of Engineering's Make to Innovate (M:2:I) program, they brought a human-centered design perspective to seven interdisciplinary teams solving aerospace engineering challenges.

Third-year students Abby Seestrom and Hope Nolan helped rethink how astronauts could see, think and move while working on the Moon by bringing UX principles to a spacesuit heads-up display and developing a more adaptable internal harness.

See how industrial design became a mission-critical part of the team: https://www.design.iastate.edu/news/m2i-industrial-design/

NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium
Iowa State University

Through CYstarters, Iowa State’s student accelerator program offered by ISU Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, four College of Design students turned their unique ideas into growing businesses this summer!

Meet the CYstarters who spent the past 11 weeks building, testing, and refining their business concepts:

Wilnuse Riphin — EcoCradle, designed to make transporting plants safer, cleaner, and easier

Benjamin Trost and Sophia Thomas — Go Mode, a performance-driven sports equipment brand

Berry Schnetter — K Fisher Designs, which creates functional, ergonomic, and portable tools for creative professionals

The students capped off their summer by sharing their progress at CYstarters Demo Day on July 30. We’re proud of all they accomplished and can’t wait to see their ventures continue to grow!

Calling Seattle-area designers of all ages!

How can a drawing become a circuit and a circuit become sound? Explore the connections among whale songs, fractals, and living systems at “Whale Song × Fractals ≈ Design | Co-Flux,” a hands-on pop-up workshop at the Seattle Design Festival.

Created by associate professor of architecture Merate Barakat and assistant professor of industrial design Miray Boğa, this multisensory experience invites participants to draw whale songs, turn graphite sketches into conductive circuits, and transform those circuits into sound.

Stop by Lake Union Park next weekend:
Saturday, Aug. 15, 3–7 p.m. PT
Sunday, Aug. 16, 4:30–7 p.m. PT

Learn more: https://seadesignfest.org/events/2026/whale-song-x-fractals-%e2%89%88-design-co-flux/

Resources like the Game Design Learning Lab in the Iowa State University Library and the Iowa State University Student Innovation Center take student learning to the next level.

Whether they’re testing a digital game prototype, bringing ideas to life in the Electronics, Textiles and 3D Printing Makerspace, or exploring new worlds through virtual reality, our students have access to tools and spaces that fuel creativity, experimentation, and innovation.

At Iowa State, giving students access to the most cutting edge, innovative technology is a top priority. Spaces like the Game Design Learning Lab in the Iowa State University Library and the AI Innovation Studio at the Iowa State University Student Innovation Center give Cyclones the opportunity to practice and explore new technologies as part of their learning. Read more: https://isu.foundation/4wgbthe

How can games help us better understand the world around us?

Alenka Poplin, director of Iowa State University’s new game design program and creator of the Geogames Lab and Symposium, joined Iowa Public Radio ’s "River to River" to discuss the growing field of game design and the many ways games can help us explore complex ideas.

Listen to the conversation: https://www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/river-to-river/2026-07-29/bill-aims-to-protect-kids-online-but-raises-privacy-concerns

Check in to a new art exhibit at the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center.

Seven paintings by recent graduate Ruby Walker (MFA 2026 Integrated Visual Arts) are now on display throughout the newly renovated conference center. The exhibition debuted during the Gateway’s July 14 open house and will remain on view for the coming year.

Take a closer look the next time you visit the hotel or The IowaStater Restaurant!