01-29-04

ISU EXHIBITION WILL SHOWCASE DESIGN EXCELLENCE OF DEERE, HON AND MAYTAG PRODUCTS, FEB. 9-22

AMES, Iowa -- Three leading Iowa manufacturers will show how good product design is good for business, during a uniquegallery exhibition at Iowa State University's College of Design, Feb. 9-22.

"Good Design. Good Business" will showcase design excellence of The HON Company and Allsteel Inc., Muscatine; JohnDeere, Waterloo; and Maytag Corporation, Newton.

Each company will display products and tell the story of the product's development from concept to promotion. Among theproducts displayed will be John Deere's prototype of an autonomous (driverless) tractor, Maytag's new Neptune DryingCenter and complete suites of HON and Allsteel office furniture.

"These Iowa companies are known throughout the world for their design and manufacturing excellence. In their exhibitiondisplays, they will show how innovative, creative design makes good business sense because it leads to high-qualityproducts, brand recognition and loyalty, resulting in long-term success," said Cameron Campbell, assistant professor ofarchitecture and an organizer of the exhibition.

"The goal of this exhibition is to illustrate the intellectual and physical process of developing a concept and movingthrough the research and design stages to product launch and promotion. We want our students to see that some of thevery best examples of this fascinating process happen right here in Iowa," Campbell said.

Additional features of the exhibition include the following.

• The new John Deere 7920 tractor will be displayed on the front lawn of the Design Building. In thegallery, a hood from a 7920 will be on exhibit along with the autonomous tractor and a kiosk explaining the role ofdesign in John Deere's success.
  
  
• In addition to the Neptune Drying Center and a Wide-By-Side refrigerator, the Maytag Corporationwill present products from Jenn-Air's new line of small appliances. Their display will use individual products toillustrate the role of design in differentiating brands.
  
  
• Allsteel will depict the two-year development of their hyper-ergonomic #19 office chair byindustrial designer, Marcus Koepke and the Allsteel engineering team. The will also show configurable office systemsand explain the quality of fabrication and innovative techniques--from Pantone color matching to high-end woodveneers--used for meeting client needs.
  
  
• HON will display their award-winning Perpetual line of professional office furniture, focusing onits flexibility and mobility for a range of office situations.

In addition, the exhibition will give ISU interior design students an opportunity for a real-world experience. Thestudents in art and design professor Dorothy Fowles' lighting design class will work with the exhibition organizers todesign museum lighting for the gallery.

The College of Design will host an exhibition reception, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11. Representatives fromeach of the companies will be introduced and make remarks during a brief program at 5 p.m. The public is invited toattend free of charge.

"Good Design. Good Business" will be in Gallery 181 on the first floor of the College of Design building. Hours are 9a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday; and 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Admission isfree and all exhibitions are open to the public.

The exhibition is part of the College of Design's Silver Anniversary celebration, which features notable speakers andspecial exhibitions throughout the year. Information on upcoming events is available athttp://www.design.iastate.edu, then click on 25th Anniversary.

-30-