By Rick Nickel
Professor, Department of Art

After an INNOVATE Design Thinking Summer Workshop led by Karen L. Sanzo and John Baaki, I started to imagine new ways to provide a supportive learning environment for my students while integrating experiential learning into my courses.

Given that my students create ceramic mugs and vessels with specific uses, I devised a challenge for them to design a mug in collaboration with a local business. We explored potential partnerships with Norfolk businesses including Doumar’s, Café Stella, Perfectly Frank, and Borjo Coffeehouse.

As a result, I initiated a collaboration between my Arts 363 Intermediate Ceramics class and Borjo. The goal was to challenge students to design mugs in collaboration with the business, fostering a creative learning experience for students.

I connected with Borjo manager Monica Kello and new owner Bill Odom to coordinate and plan the event. In addition to the Borjo Mug Contest, we organized a Pottery Sale, motivating students to craft pieces that could be offered for sale at Borjo.

The students talked to Monica to understand the specific needs of Borjo, exploring various drink containers and sizes for espresso, cold brews, caffe au lait, and americano — each requiring unique mug designs.

Following the discussions, students had three weeks to create their mug designs and additional pottery for the sale, which took place on Dec. 4-5.

The pottery sale was a resounding success.

Yesinia Rowe, Avery Keys, and Kaitlyn Compton led the sales team, supported by Anne Claire Wood, Stephanie Buckley, Noah Coplon, Isabella Fritzinger, Elijah Chumley, Allison Esthay and Tinsley Mirabelli.

For the Borjo Mug Contest, students presented their mugs for evaluation by Borjo’s baristas, who assessed both aesthetic and functional aspects. Baristas then cast votes using coffee beans to determine their top three choices. The winners were announced after counting the beans:

  • Isabella Fritzinger, first place
  • Kaitlyn Compton, second place
  • Yesinia Rowe, third place

The Borjo Mug Contest and Pottery Sale showcased the creativity and practical skills of our students, providing a valuable learning experience and fostering collaboration with the local community.

After the sale, in class, I encouraged students to continue to seek opportunities beyond the university, emphasizing the value of their work and themselves.

It was an effort to solve problems by design thinking and help them recognize the appreciation for their knowledge and skills which they sometimes underestimate.