InnovationErie: Design Competition: an Exhibit of Bright Ideas Grand Prize Winner & Finalists Announced

Erie, PA, June 27, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Judges of the InnovationErie: Design Competition announced the grand prize winner and finalists, including the people’s choice Best of Show at a press conference on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 1:30 p.m. at the Erie Art Museum Annex Gallery, 423 State Street.

“The finalist presentations were all exceptional. Each gave a professional presentation backed with research about the product they had developed, including specifics on why it was needed,” said InnovationErie judge Dana Groemminger, artist. “Hopefully, this competition will act as a springboard for ALL those selected to be on exhibit, giving their ideas exposure, connecting them with the right people, and enabling them to further develop their products.”

Grand Prize: Ryan Bookhamer, Sling-Footwear Carrier The Sling Footwear Carrier is designed to be durable, lightweight, UV protected, waterproof, and quick drying. The product has been developed to carry, aerate, and protect shoes in an organized fashion. Sling is designed to be easily held in one hand or clipped to a bag.

First Prize: Kathleen Ann Moore, Ori-Koppu A fully self-contained coffee cup that is disposable, biodegradable with insulating elements and a lid built into one piece.

Second Prize: Deepak Pahuja, MD, Disposable Stethoscope This is a disposable one-time use cover for stethoscope chest piece with a rollable neck. It provides protection between the hands of the user and the stethoscope when examining patients.

Third Prize: Dan L’Huillier, The Shark The Shark will perform the same function as a traditional starter’s pistol but will be clearly distinguishable from a firearm.

Best of Show: Michael Richardson, Galaxy Rhythm Guitar Pick A round (vs. triangular) guitar pick with an embossed design on both sides for grip.

Honorable Mention: Erika & Jackie Zehner, Sunflower Shower A decorative showerhead in the shape of a sunflower for added style in bath.

“The selection process was sometimes like comparing apples and oranges, with one submission being very strong in the aesthetic category, and another being strong in usefulness and innovation,” said Groemminger. “Ryan Bookhamer’s Sling best fulfilled All the criteria of the competition, and was selected as the winner. Innovative, useful and well designed, his Sling shoe holder can easily be manufactured in the Erie area. Ori-Koppu came from the desire of Kathleen Moore to figure out a way to make ubiquitous disposable coffee cup easier to recycle. Her passion for recycling evolved from growing up near a garbage incinerating facility and the subsequent health effects that had. Deepak Pahuja’s disposable stethoscope cover has the potential to save lives, which in the category of usefulness is the most important use I can conceive of. We were so impressed with mom/daughter team that was Erika and Jackie Zehner, we decided then and there to create another winning category of “Honorable Mention.” I see a new category for young people in InnovationErie emerging.”

About InnovationErie
A collaborative effort among professionals in the science, art, manufacturing, engineering and design (SAM & ED) industries, InnovationErie: Design Competition is a product design competition allowing people in northwest Pennsylvania to showcase their product ideas, with the possibility of taking them to the next level: the marketplace. The competition seeks ideas for products that can be manufactured in the Erie region.

Competition partners include the Northwest Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, STARTUP Incubator, Edinboro University, Northwestern and Erie Keystone Innovation Zones, MacDonald Illig Jones & Britton, Knox, McLaughlin, Gornall & Sennett, eBizITPA, Erie Times-News, GoErie.com, Erie Art Museum, Penn State Erie - the Behrend College and the Plastics Technology Center at Penn State Behrend.

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