Designing with light

Light became both the medium and the message as more than 60 Kansas State University students transformed ideas into innovative designs during the 2026 Rensen House of Lights Student Design Competition.

Hosted by the College of Architecture, Planning & Design's Department of Interior Architecture & Industrial Design, the annual competition challenged third-year students in interior design, interior architecture and industrial design to explore lighting as a transformative element in design. Projects examined how lighting shapes atmosphere, enhances human experience and elevates both product and spatial design.

Made possible through the generous support of Tom Rensenhouse and Rensen House of Lights of Lenexa, the competition concluded with juried presentations, professional critiques and awards recognizing outstanding student work.

"This competition gives our students the opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals while demonstrating the depth of creativity, research and technical skill they are developing at APDesign," said Nathan Howe, professor and head of the Department of Interior Architecture & Industrial Design.

"Lighting is one of the most powerful tools designers use to shape experience, emotion and connection."

Industry professionals evaluate students' light design work

This year's competition featured juried presentations and reviews by leading professionals from across the design and lighting industries, including Benjamin Parra, president of Rensen House of Lights; Andy Orwig of Wilson Lighting; Shaun Fynn, founder of StudioFYNN and adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design; and Melissa Miller, principal at TK Architects.

Parra praised the students for their innovation and fresh thinking.

"We were incredibly impressed by the level of creativity and professionalism demonstrated throughout the competition," Parra said. "These students are already thinking like designers in the field — balancing function, beauty, storytelling and user experience in meaningful ways. It was exciting to see how each discipline approached lighting from a unique perspective."

Projects ranged from community-centered rural markets and immersive retail environments to original lighting products designed to improve everyday experiences through thoughtful interaction, materiality and form.

Learning beyond the classroom

Faculty emphasized the importance of industry-sponsored competitions as an essential part of APDesign's professional learning environment. Through partnerships such as the Rensen House of Lights competition, students gain hands-on experience engaging with practicing professionals while developing technical and conceptual skills that prepare them for future careers.

Assistant Professor Kristiana Johnson, faculty lead for the interior design students participating in the competition, said the experience helped students connect classroom learning with professional expectations.

"Competitions like this encourage students to test ideas, take creative risks and develop confidence in presenting their work," Johnson said. "The interaction with industry professionals gives students meaningful feedback while helping them understand how design concepts move from an idea into practical application."

Professor of Practice Tim McKeown, who guided industrial design student participants, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of the competition and the value of collaboration across design disciplines.

"Lighting exists at the intersection of technology, manufacturing and human experience," McKeown said. "This competition challenged students to think critically about how products are made, how they function and how they improve daily life. The work presented by our students reflects a strong culture of curiosity, experimentation and innovation within APDesign."

Faculty also noted that the competition reflects APDesign's broader mission of preparing students to become leaders capable of addressing contemporary challenges through thoughtful, human-centered design.

K‑State's 2026 Rensen House of Lights Student Design Competition

Interior Design

Faculty lead: Assistant Professor Kristiana Johnson

• Winner ($3,000): Marissa DeWeese.
• Runner-up ($2,000): Unn Ngamkitcharoenlap.
• Honorable mentions: Becca Hughes, Christelle Majed and Caroline Matthews.

Industrial Design

Faculty lead: Professor of Practice Tim McKeown

• Winners ($2,500 each): Elizabeth Ericksen and Kimmy Ippel.
• Honorable mention: Audrey McDowell.

Interior Architecture

• Winner ($3,000):Nia Williams, studio led by Professor Vibha Jani.
• Runner-up ($2,000): Courtney Tregellas, studio led by Associate Professor Neal Hubbell.
• Honorable mentions: Kassie Albert and Kirsten Bourgeois, both in Hubbell's studio; and Elliot Herod and Elexis Williams, both in Jani's studio.

The competition concluded with a reception celebrating the students, faculty and jurors who contributed to the event's success. Faculty participating in this year's competition included Kristiana Johnson, Tim McKeown, Vibha Jani and Neal Hubbell.

The annual partnership between APDesign and Rensen House of Lights continues to strengthen connections between the college and the professional design community, providing students with industry exposure, professional critique and opportunities to showcase their work beyond the classroom while preparing them to lead the future of lighting, interior environments and product innovation.