In 1999 and 2000, students in Industrial Design, Architecture, Foundation Studies, and Interior and Landscape Architecture took advantage of Maytag Corporation’s seasoned perspective through special interdisciplinary courses. Structured around reciprocal presentations between students and Maytag designers, the Commercial Kitchen Studio, Home Life/2020 Studio and Laundry Studio each encouraged participants to expand their thinking beyond the limitations of current household technology and into the realm of groundbreaking improvement.

Final projects ended up being eye-openers — to both the talent within the RISD community and the need for such innovative thinking in industry. A portable rugged clothes washer, electronic restaurant staff uniforms, and homes of the future with collapsible and mobile rooms were among the ideas that emerged from the semester-long studios.

Far from improbable, these concepts were grounded in the in-depth research and consumer observation typical of RISD’s sponsored research studios. It may take a while before we can actually attach temporary guest rooms to the outsides of our houses — but it’s this interplay between creative concept development and real-world expertise that makes this type of relationship between industry and academia so fruitful.