{"id":16023,"date":"2021-01-14T13:27:53","date_gmt":"2021-01-14T18:27:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/?p=16023"},"modified":"2021-01-14T13:27:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-14T18:27:53","slug":"facing-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/textiles.ncsu.edu\/news\/2021\/01\/facing-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Facing the Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By: Loren Strong<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior Design class prepares students in textile engineering and textile technology to become innovative problem solvers. It also shows that knowledge, creativity and teamwork go a long way in meeting any challenge.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a pandemic year marked by near-constant disruption, senior<\/span> textile engineering<\/span><\/a> and<\/span> textile technology<\/span><\/a> students continued the Wilson College tradition of <\/span>Senior Design<\/span><\/a> in a most MacGyver-like way. They developed an effective face mask \u2013 <\/span>using just 14 items and overcoming built-in project limitations designed to make the assignment more challenging.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In only a week, <\/span>14 teams<\/span><\/a> had developed a prototype with filtration efficacy on par with a surgical mask as they competed for first, second and third place honors. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEach year we start Senior Design with a week-long mini-project to get teams inspired and energized,\u201d said <\/span>Amanda Mills, <\/span>Senior Design project coordinator and <\/span>Nano-EXtended Textiles<\/span><\/a> (NExt) fusion designer <\/span>of the Wilson College of Textiles<\/span>. \u201cThe Senior Design mini-project is meant to serve as a ‘crash course’ in design and as a way for students to get to know those in their team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In previous years, students created an innovative product for an impoverished community with two rice bags and a $10 budget as part of the <\/span>Rice Bag Challenge<\/span><\/a> project. Sponsored by Rise Against Hunger, students received feedback from the organization on the utilization of their products to produce a plethora of designs, which ranged from bookbags to sandals. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Transition to 2020 and the world has become familiar with wearing comfortable and sometimes uncomfortable face masks for protection during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senior Design mini-project served as an opportunity for students to leverage their educational knowledge from the last three years into a challenging, hands-on project that prompted them to think outside the box. Their think-and-do spirit was challenged when tasked to create a face mask within one week and a limited budget. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n