SFSU Industrial Design Team Wins Awards at the 2026 Biodesign Challenge

School of Design students Dominic Taylor and April Anderson (and Jason Lee, in absentia) receive the 2026 Biodesign Challenge Award for Outstanding Institutional Collaboration from Biodesign Executive Director Paul Rubery (center), Program Manager Michael Balangue (left) and Founder, former Executive Director, Board Member and Jury Member Daniel Grushkin (right). The award ceremony took place at NYC MoMA. (Photo by Shannon Carroll). 

The DES.410 Product Design 2 team, Coastal Resonance, won the Outstanding Institutional Collaboration Award at the 2026 Biodesign Challenge, this past summer. The team, comprised of students April Anderson, Dominic Taylor, and Jason Lee also achieved the highest recognition given by the competition, the Platinum Award, given to only 18 of the 47 participating teams, praising projects that addressed “rubric requirements under all four sections: Narrative, Concept, Context, and Reflection.” 

Led by Associate Professor Dr. Fernando Carvalho and supported by designer and author Josie Iselin, this has been the fourth consecutive participation of SFSU in this prestigious, international competition, and the first time the University has received awards. The work was the result of a collaboration with Dr. Kathy Boyer, Professor of Biology and former Director of SFSU’s Estuarine and Ocean Science Center (EOS).

Coastal Resonance team members Dominic Taylor and April Anderson present their project at Parsons New School of Design. The team received a Platinum Award, the highest recognition, for their work and presentation. (Photo by Shannon Carroll)

These commendations come as a result of continuous efforts led by Prof. Carvalho and Mrs. Iselin in obtaining internal and external financial and logistical support, which includes successful grant applications, awards, and donations, obtained since the University’s first participation in 2023. To date, the program has benefitted more than 120 students, supporting the in-person participation of 25 design students and 3 faculty members. This year, for the first time, a second team of SFSU design students will participate in the PANDO Awards, at Caltech, later in October. 

The SFSU 2026 Biodesign team, Coastal Resonance (from left to right): Associate Professor Fernando Carvalho, April Anderson, Jason Lee, Dominic Taylor, and special consultant Josie Iselin.

Also at this year’s Biodesign Challenge, Prof. Carvalho participated in a panel discussion during the Biodesign Symposium. In the panel, four academics shared their experiences and reflections on how to ensure equitable and resilient pathways in biodesign education and practice.

The 2026 SFSU Biodesign Program acknowledges the financial support provided by the Climate HQ Faculty Mini Grant, and Mr. Richard Ingalls’ donation. The funds provided by these institutions and individuals allowed registration in the Biodesign Challenge event, supported class activities and prototype building, and travel arrangements.