One of Bemidji State University Technology, Art & Design’s brightest stars, Anika Norgren earned a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Europe’s most influential exhibit design show after winning a prestigious student design competition.
The Annandale-native submitted a trade exhibit mock-up in October for a student competition sponsored by the Experiential Design Producers Association, an organization which represents more than 300 corporations and thousands of professional members in the exhibit and experience design industry.
The exhibit and experience design industry creates visual brand identities and interactive experiences for retail stores, trade shows, corporate office interiors and more. If you’ve ever been wowed by a booth at an entertainment conference, or had your eye drawn to a unique product display in your favorite department store, you can credit the creativity of people like Norgren.
EDPA judges choose Norgren’s entry over nearly 40 other undergraduate and graduate submissions from universities across the country, punching Norgren’s ticket to Dusseldorf, Germany to attend EuroShop 2023, Europe’s largest exhibit and retail design trade show. Joined by five classmates and Dr. Sachel Josefson, associate professor of technology, art & design, Norgren took a lot away from her five days in Germany.
“The technology and lighting that was included in some exhibits really stood out to me,” Norgren said about the quality of the exhibits and the inspiration she gleaned from being a part of Europe’s premier show. “I have a fresh perspective on what experience design means and how I can apply that to my own work.”
Norgren said her eye-catching design has received many compliments from fellow students, faculty and industry professionals since winning the EDPA competition — affirmation that the time and effort put into her studies is not going to waste.
“Winning this competition means everything I’ve learned at BSU and in the industry has paid off,” Norgren, who was recently hired as a junior designer for an exhibit design firm in Brooklyn Park, said. “I look forward to working in this profession and this accomplishment has heightened my excitement for the future.”
With the continued support of Technology, Art & Design faculty and staff, Norgren feels ready to jump into the exhibit design world following graduation.
“BSU has provided me not only with a degree, but a prosperous future.”
About the School of Technology, Art & Design
Bemidji State’s School of Technology, Art & Design offers the only undergraduate exhibit design major in the United States. The program combines 3D design and marketing, allowing students to work independently and as part of teams designing exhibits for trade shows, museums and other educational exhibits, point-of-purchase displays and other retail environments. The program enjoys unparalleled relationships with the professional exhibit design industry and offers thousands in scholarships to its students each year. BSU’s exhibit design majors have travel opportunities across the country and internationally, and nearly all of the program’s graduates find jobs in the exhibit design industry.
Contact
Sachel Josefson, associate professor of technology, art & design
Links
School of Technology, Art & Design
Experiential Design Producers Association
EuroShop