In 2002 the San Jose State University School of Art & Design received a Thermoforming Equipment Grant from the SPE Foundation. This

SJSU School of Art & Design Central Shop Facilities

matching grant enabled the School to purchase a new APM Elite 2424 thermoformer for their central shop facility. The introduction of such modern industrial equipment has profoundly enhanced the exploration of creative pursuits in art & design.

The 3-Dimensional Design and Industrial Design introductory courses have experienced a significant increase in the production and use of thermoformed parts for class projects. The reliability of the new equipment over the old home-built machine has helped to ensure students success in completing their class projects, while facing the challenges of working with new techniques and materials.

The students in Shannon Wright’s 3-dimensional design course were assigned a project in which they were asked to design and build a "personal, portable shelter" which could be entered into, or which would cover a portion of their body. The focus of this assignment was to explore sculptural concepts in a custom design to fit the designers’ own specific needs. Cristi Long thermoformed a protective covering, which duplicated her arm, to protect her from the sun while driving. This humorous and useful device is designed to protect her against asymmetrical tanning!

Senior industrial design and fine art graduate students are also using this new piece of equipment to produce their final projects. This year Industrial Design students produced and entered their product designs in the International Housewares Association Student Design Competition. SJSU-ID Graduate Student Alison Barnsley won first place; Mark Londborg and Jesse Madsen won honorable mentions.

Both Alison and Mark produced their award winning designs on the new APM ELITE. Alison’s Hamper/Washer for fine hand washables was formed from polyethylene and Marks’ scale model of a ‘material transporter’ was formed from polystyrene.

The funding of modern industrial equipment through the generous grant from the SPE Foundation in this education setting has not only expanded the abilities to explore creative pursuits in art and design, but has produced award winning results!

San Jose State University is located in San Jose California

APM EliteThermoformformer,Made possible by a grant from the SPE Foundation.

• Alison Anne Barnsley
  SJSU-ID Graduate Student
  " Delicato: Hamper/Washer for Fine Hand Washables"
  First Place Award International Housewares Association Student Design Competition
  Thermoformed Polyethylene

• Cristi Long
  SJSU-ID 3- Dimensional Student “Shelter from Driver’s Tan”
  Thermoformed and painted styrene to protect her arm from the sun while driving.

• Mark Londborg
  SJSU-ID Graduate Student
  SJSU-ID Senior, "Blade - Material Transport"
  Honorable Mention - Award International Housewares Association Student Design Competition
  Thermoformed Polystyrene