Michael Young's concept design.

Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) students, through a class project, have been partnering with the The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA)  to redesign the downtown business district bus shelters. Recently COTA announced their final decision: choosing the winning design from amongst the three finalist.

Michael Young, a senior in Industrial Design, had his design concept chosen after a community-wide voting process.

The partnership between COTA and CCAD began in a Contemporary Issues in Design class when COTA asked 12 students to submit design proposals for the new shelters.

The designs had to incorporate innovative materials, sustainable or “green” features, protection from the elements, and had to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The shelter also had to complement the urban environment and serve as an attractive focal point.

Three finalist stand awaiting the decision on which design will be used

Out of the initial 12 designs, three were selected as finalists: senior Industrial Design majors, Lyndsye Maez,  Joe Washington, and Young. These three designs were presented to the public who were encouraged to provide  input throughout the month of August.

“Their final decision fell right in line with the public’s choice,” said Beth Berkemer, public and media relations manager at COTA.

This partnership with COTA  is one of several business partnerships that CCAD is involved with. The college has worked closely with the the Ohio governor’s office, Easton Town Center, and Huntington Bank in recent projects that provide students with real-world experience as creative professionals.

“The value of experience like this for students is that they’re able to generate ideas that have an impact on the community where they live, work, and play,” said Kevin Conlon, vice president for academic affairs.

The bus shelters are projected to be in place by the end of 2012.

Nathan Moser (center) with band, The Bare Feats

As if CCAD didn’t already have talent enough, on Thursday Sept 15, 2011, the Student Programming Board put on their first talent show: CCAD’s Got Talent. Finally! A chance for us to see what else our crazy-talented artist friends and classmates have going for them. When students aren’t pulling all-nighters trying to get that homework done, it turns out they’re practicing some other extra-curricular talents. What don’t CCAD students do? Seriously.

We all knew that CCAD has painting, drawing, and designing. But did you know that we also have bare-footed banjo players (The Bare Feat); singing sensations (Julie Ward and Beth DuBoe); tap, hip hop, ballet, and Indian classical dancers (Mary Mauger, Marcos Castillo, Da’Niro Brown, and Zaria Ahmed); singer/songwriters (Patrick Thomas and Taylor Repuano); cello and piano players (Stephanie Berrie and Michael Young); stand-up comedians (Zayne Parmiter); a bass-slapping beast (Alejandro Bellizzi); and even our very own Lady Gaga (Christian Cimoroni)? Yeah. Just saying.

We all voted by texting the number of our favorite performers (insert boast about how tech-savvy our school is), and then a panel of faculty judges picked a winner out of the crowd’s favorite four. At the end of the evening, hip hop dancer, Mr. Marcos Castillo ( a junior in Illustration) took home the grand prize of $200, but all the other performers took home something too: the admiration of their fellow student body.

As for me, I’m still trying to find my talent. I guess pulling 17-hour workdays will have to be it for now. If you need me, I’ll be sleeping. Over and out.

Passenger shelter concepts by Industrial Design students

Soon thousands of urban travelers will see new and improved bus shelters thanks to the innovative design work of Columbus College of Art & Design students.

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) worked with 12 CCAD students enrolled in the Contemporary Issues in Design class to design new bus passenger shelters to replace existing ones in downtown’s central business district. Three of the designs are under consideration and are currently on view and open for public review and feedback.

The students were challenged to incorporate innovative materials, sustainable or “green” features, protection from the elements, and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their designs. In addition, they needed to incorporate a unique, signature design to complement the urban environment and serve as an attractive focal point to the streetscape.

Tom Williamson, an assistant professor of Industrial Design, and Carl Garant, professor and dean of Industrial and Interior Design, worked with the following students and now-alumni on last year’s project: Caleb Boller, Gregory Holmes (CCAD 2011), 
Steve Hughett (CCAD 2011), Lyndsye Maez, Jeff Ras (CCAD 2011), Scott Stewart (CCAD 2011), Daniel Tsorin, Joel Vangilder, Joe Washington, Michael Young, and 



Igor Zemskov (CCAD 2011). Interior Design alumna Ashley Randolph (CCAD 2011) also was one of the participating students.

COTA is seeking feedback on three student designs, which are on view through Friday, Aug. 12 in the lobbies of the Franklin County Courthouse, 373 S. High St., the Rhodes State Office Tower, 30 E. Broad St. and the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation William Green Building, 30 W. Spring St.

Comment cards (as well as collection boxes)  are provided at the displays. Comment here or to COTA directly by calling 614.228.1776 or via email at www.cota.com under “Contact Us.”

After the public comment period COTA will choose a final design. Then the process of replacing a few shelters in the central business district with shelters that incorporate the chosen design will begin. The transit company hasn’t determined the exact number of student-designed shelters to be installed but expects to have them in place by the end of 2012.