First-Year Sports Product Design Graduate Students
Anticipated graduation for second-year students is June 2028.
Dhruvika Ahlawat
Surrounded by movement, equipment, and problem-solving from an early age, Dhruvika developed an instinct to observe closely and recognize patterns to understand what makes something work. Growing up in India, she spent her summers rigging climbing and zipline equipment at camp, alongside years of sports such as swimming, gymnastics, and handball. These sports gave her an early hands-on relationship with movement and the systems that support these activities. Her Bachelor of Design in knitwear design from NIFT, Mumbai and her years of practice across different categories such as knitwear, activewear, and footwear have shaped her multidisciplinary approach to design that combines material architecture, 3D design, knit programming, and prototyping.
She is now focused on building products where material and construction can directly shape movement and performance. Moving forward, she is interested in designing products for demanding environments where performance, durability, and adaptability are critical. She is particularly drawn to research-driven innovation that explores how new materials, construction methods, and emerging technologies can create solutions beyond conventional product approaches.
Garrett Anderson
Garrett Anderson was born and raised just outside of DC. His love of sports started at a young age when he began swimming at four years old. Garrett maintained his swimming career throughout his life, participating at a collegiate level at Brigham Young University while pursuing a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design.
His passion for creativity grew as he worked in decorative lighting and product design for several years before deciding to pursue higher education. Garrett enjoys spending time outdoors and playing board games with his wife and daughters. His background as an athlete has motivated him to cultivate the skills necessary to design products that prioritize user experience and performance. His love of sports and competition has given him an understanding of the need for functionality and design. Garrett is particularly interested in discovering innovative solutions for all athletes with an emphasis on swimming.
Arven Roi Bunao
Raised among the natural landscapes of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, Arven Roi Bunao grew up with an innate reverence for nature, art, and craftsmanship. That early connection to the outdoors sparked a lifelong curiosity about how design and the natural world intersect, but his journey was ultimately shaped by a deep desire to serve others. Driven by that purpose, Arven initially served in the military and law enforcement. Working in high-pressure environments gave him a unique perspective on human movement and physical resilience. Seeing firsthand how tactical apparel and equipment perform when the body is pushed to its limits inspired him to use design as a tool to protect, heal, and empower people.
To turn that vision into reality, Arven built a versatile educational foundation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Portland State University and an Associate degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. Guided by principles of accessibility and sustainability, he focuses his design philosophy on creating inclusive solutions that empower human movement and foster strong connections with nature and community.
Outside the studio, he stays connected to his roots as an avid runner, photographer, and explorer who loves discovering diverse cultures.
John Davis
Born and raised in Colorado, John developed an early connection to the sports industry through his grandmother, a sports psychologist who worked with athletes who frequently traveled to the Olympics. He initially enrolled at the University of Colorado Boulder to study psychology but quickly realized his fascination lay less with the profession itself and more with the world of sports. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design, which gave him a broad perspective on the role of design in the world while combining creativity, visual engagement, and hands-on making to create human-centered products.
John is particularly interested in designing high-visibility, passion-driven industries, where products can inspire excitement and shape cultural experiences. His connection to the sports industry has given him an early understanding of how athletes communicate their needs and desires, while his design background has taught him to approach those needs with rigor, curiosity, and attention to detail. He is especially interested in bridging the gap between product performance and visual appeal through the exploration of color, material, and form. Through the Sports Product Design program, John hopes to expand his multidisciplinary background and contribute to the future of sports product innovation through products and experiences that enhance performance, inspire engagement, and provide a meaningful cultural impact through the development of work that is both highly capable and visually engaging.
Abby Dunn
Growing up in North Carolina, Abby’s passion for the outdoors was shaped by the rolling Appalachian Mountains, and they became an avid backpacker. At Appalachian State University, they earned a degree in Industrial Design. While there, they honed their sketching and 3D modeling skills through projects focused on sustainability. Working as a Running Specialist, a retail footwear outfitter trained in gait analysis and performance shoe fitting, allowed Abby to support a wide spectrum of athletes: experienced ultramarathoners, first-time 5K runners, and nurses on their feet for 12-hour shifts. Discussing pain points with hundreds of customers highlighted how design decisions impact daily life.
When they aren’t ideating their next creative project, Abby can be found on the field playing ultimate frisbee, paddleboarding, or playing a round of disc golf. Their passion for sports and the outdoors has fueled them to design gear that lowers barriers to movement and invites the user to enjoy outdoor spaces.
Carter Killin
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Carter grew up surrounded and fascinated by both art and athletics. In a city at the center of sporting goods, he saw firsthand how the two could be combined. At a young age knew he wanted to be a part of it. Being a multi-sport athlete all his life, participating in almost every sport involving a ball, he wanted to design products that allow others to perform at their highest level and tell stories that they can connect with.
He attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a minor in Art History and a BFA in Product Design. Carter geared every project he could pursuing his goal of combining performance and storytelling. He continues to design functional and impactful footwear for those who expect more from their gear and push themselves and their shoes to the limit.
Maggie Malone
Born and raised in Seattle, Maggie grew up surrounded by the Pacific Northwest’s active culture. She has always been drawn to movement and competition, trying nearly every sport she could, with soccer and distance running remaining her favorites.
With a background in scientific research and human physiology, Maggie is fascinated by how the body works and how design can work with it. She earned a B.S. in Human Physiology with a minor in Psychology from Gonzaga University and spent four years researching novel pediatric oncology clinical trials before turning her attention to sports product design.
Maggie seeks to combine rigorous scientific research with design to develop innovative products that help people move, perform, and recover. She is particularly interested in translating evidence-based insights and emerging technologies into products for bodies and athletes often overlooked by the industry. She is driven to push sports product design forward while proving that performance and accessibility do not have to come at the expense of aesthetics.
Kate Meinhard
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Kate developed a love for sports and creativity. Whether she was teaching herself how to do her own nails or painting custom shoes, she was always finding new ways to express her artistic side, turning her childhood bedroom into a makeshift art studio. At the same time, being raised in a family of athletes fostered a competitive spirit that ultimately led her to compete at the collegiate level.
Kate graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a degree in Physics and minors in Mathematics and Studio Art/Art History while also competing on the women’s soccer and lacrosse teams. This interdisciplinary background allowed her to see the design process from multiple perspectives, blending an understanding of performance-driven mechanics with an appreciation for aesthetics and thoughtful product design. By keeping the athlete at the center of the process, she strives to identify unmet consumer needs and create products that better support female athletes as they compete.
Leeza Polyakova
As a West Coast native, Leeza is proud to be shaped by the old-growth forests, rugged mountains, and varied beaches of the PNW and throughout the coast. Her relationship with sport began in the water through swimming, then artistic swimming, and has since expanded to many forms of aquatic and outdoor pursuits.
With a background in Marketing and Photography, Leeza brings a storyteller’s perspective to design. She is curious about people, their diverse lived experiences, and how products can impact their lives. Growing up participating in a smaller, female-dominated sport opened her eyes to the gaps that remain in researching diverse bodies, activities, and performance needs.
Leeza is particularly interested in thoughtful fit, high-quality materials, and a circular approach to product design. She hopes to create products that feel intuitive and empowering to the end user, while considering the long-term impacts of the materials used.
Obi Pointe
Growing up in the Italian Alps, Obi developed a passion for mountain sports and sports products. His experience in ski racing, along with his current pursuits in rock climbing and mountaineering, have shaped the way he looks at equipment and performance.
From his time at Georgia Tech pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design, his work includes designing mobility systems for demanding desert conditions and developing climbing equipment from upcycled materials. These experiences have strengthened his interest in creating high-performance products that enhance athlete capabilities and experiences.
Obi is particularly driven towards innovative product design for mountain sports and looks forward to deepening his understanding of materials, construction, prototyping, and performance testing while exploring how revolutionary design can improve the relationship between athletes and their equipment.
Jake Schapiro
As a young athlete, Jake became curious about why seemingly similar equipment could perform so differently. This interest led him to earn a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Engineering from Texas A&M University with a minor in Biomedical Engineering, where he custom-built his degree around biomechanics, materials science, and mechanical design. The degree plan he developed now provides a starting point for future Aggie engineering students interested in pursuing careers in sports products.
His background has shaped an approach to design focused on how materials, construction, and product geometry can influence performance. Through experiences in footwear, research, and product development, Jake has explored how engineering and design can work together to create products that balance performance, function, and manufacturability. He hopes to develop products that translate technical insight into advances in athletic performance.
Mariella Schweitzer
Mariella grew up in Redding, Connecticut. Being very active at a young age, she acquired a passion for sports. She started Taekwondo at four years old, becoming a 3rd-degree black belt by high school. In middle school, she began competing in track and field and continued to compete through college.
Mariella attended Dartmouth College, where she majored in Psychology. After acquiring a hobby in creating jewelry, she decided to obtain a minor in Human-Centered Design to further her interest in design. As a part of Dartmouth’s Track & Field team, she set several school records and became a multiple conference scorer within the Ivy League. She ended her collegiate career with an enthusiasm to continue the sport both on and off the track. Mariella specifically hopes to design transformative products for the next generation of runners by combining her experience as a competitive athlete and intrinsic desire to innovate for sport.
In her spare time, she enjoys playing guitar, exploring nature, fishkeeping, and aquascaping.
Asher Vasa
Asher grew up in North Carolina where he developed a love for mountain biking in the hills of Cary (it’s pretty flat there). After earning his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design with a concentration in Furniture Design from Appalachian State University, he worked in the commercial furniture industry specializing in upholstery seating and table products. While working, he continued pursuing outdoor recreation by adding skiing and gravel cycling to his list of hobbies. He has garnered close relationships with the gear and equipment he uses as a cyclist and skier, hoping to share his passion for cycling and skiing through design.
Moving forward, Asher is focused on designing cycling footwear that can handle the extreme and fluctuating conditions during trail and road use. His focus on accessibility and sustainability combined with high performance, drive him to design creative solutions for any level of user from entry level to professional athlete.
Second-Year Sports Product Design Graduate Students
Anticipated graduation for second-year students is June 2027.
Clara Brown
Growing up in Denver, Colorado, Clara has always had a love for sport, movement, and an active lifestyle. As an athlete, she grew up swimming competitively—the pool gave her not only a deep sense of peace but also the ability to tap into strength, discipline, and competitive drive.
Clara pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Missouri, guided by her passion for creating to serve others. Fascinated by how things, systems, and people move, she is driven to optimize this space by pinpointing areas for improvement and implementing creative solutions. She believes that when you connect people, the products they use, and the ways they are made, you open a powerful space for innovation. Her focus is on designing products that bring people closer to movement by supporting the human body in all the different ways it moves.
Abbey Calhoun
Abbey grew up in the suburbs of Chicago with a love for sports, crafts, and outdoor activities. Whether she was at her own sports practice, absorbed in an art project, or cheering for a Chicago sports team, she was in her element.
Abbey graduated from Carthage College with a degree in Graphic Design. Her creativity and love for sports led her to spend most of her undergraduate years working for her school’s athletic department, where she concentrated on her graphic design and photography skills from the sidelines. She had the opportunity to both photograph and compete in several NCAA Division III Championships during her time at Carthage on the Track & Field team. She spent the last five summers gaining experience as a gymnastics coach, giving back to the sport she dedicated her younger years to in any way possible. She looks forward to combining her design experience with her athletic perspective to create products that address real challenges athletes encounter on their road to success.
Sam Calkins
Sam was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. At three years old, he learned to ski and spent his childhood surfing, hiking, and participating in a variety of outdoor and team sports. His lifelong use of sports products sparked a deep curiosity about the design process behind the gear he relied on.
Sam pursued a bachelor's degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management with a minor in Geography at the University of Oregon. His studies emphasized accessibility, sustainability, and communication, shaping the way one thinks about design. As a student, he joined the University’s ski team, further strengthening his appreciation for the products that enhanced his performance. Sam is particularly interested in designing equipment and apparel for outdoor sports. He aims to create products where style, performance, and sustainability work together to elevate the user experience.
www.linkedin.com/in/sam-calkins-7321a3208
Ethan Camacho
Originally from Sterling, VA, Ethan’s passion for active, outdoor living began on the soccer field, though recurring injuries limited his ability to participate in the activities he loved. Soon realizing that this was a widespread issue, he understood that there was a global need for change. Ethan earned a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Tech, gaining hands-on experience in biomechanics research both there and at the University of Virginia. This sparked his curiosity into how scientific insight could translate into dynamic solutions. Exploring this in his capstone project, he designed and fabricated a custom full-body brace for a veteran with osteoarthritis, blending physiology, user-centered design, and tailoring techniques.
Emphasizing safety and comfort, Ethan is committed to developing innovative footwear and apparel for soccer, running, and beyond. He plans to combine biomechanics, anatomy, research, and design to give people of all backgrounds the confidence to move freely and without fear.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ethancamacho
Will Curtis
Will Curtis is a sports product designer focused on technical performance systems for action and extreme sports. A former All-American lacrosse player and lifelong outdoor athlete, he brings firsthand experience across surfing, foiling, snowboarding, diving, and other pursuits into an athlete-centered design process.
His work is driven by a curiosity about the limits of human performance and the role design can play in extending them. Moving forward, Will is focused on developing innovative products and systems for athletes operating in demanding environments. Using research, testing, and real-world experience to push the progression of sport and expand what athletes are capable of.
Elliot Hildner
Growing up on a farm in Hillsboro, Oregon, Elliot developed a hands-on approach to problem-solving and a passion for making things. This led him to attend Oregon State University, where he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree with a focus in product design and manufacturing. During his time there, he developed skills in woodworking, 3D modeling, sketching, and machining operations. In addition, he gained valuable leadership experience acting as the President of the OSU Club Baseball team.
Elliot played basketball, baseball, and soccer growing up and is now an avid golfer. His passion for sports, combined with his technical expertise, has fueled his interest in designing innovative products that enhance athletic performance. He is particularly drawn to creating equipment and footwear that balance functionality, usability, and creativity. Through the Sports Product Design program, Elliot aims to merge his engineering background with design thinking to pursue a career developing next-generation sports products.
www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-hildner
Steven Schorzman
Born and raised in Eastern Idaho, Steven spent his childhood in the wilderness hunting, fishing, and mountain biking. He also honed a passion for woodworking at an early age, a skill that continues to elevate his approach to designing and building. Studying botany and ecology at the University of Montana in Missoula, he went on to work for a decade as a botanist and biologist. During that time, Steven tested a wide range of commercially available outdoor products and equipment, often obsessing over ways to improve them and dreaming up new products to enhance the outdoor experience. He discovered a passion for sewing and apparel design during the COVID lockdown and naturally moved into developing and testing products for use in field work, experimenting with waterproofing techniques, gear efficiency, and lightweight material use.
Combining a self-taught approach to design with a dedication to social and environmental responsibility, he plans to help make high-quality and sustainable outdoor products accessible to a wider audience. In the SPD program, Steven plans to focus on innovative apparel design and material development – finding new ways to make performance gear from natural fibers and unconventional materials. He hopes to be a catalyst for rapid change in the outdoor products world, helping to evolve sustainable design and production.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-schorzman-63aa4b34a/
Kate Shreffler
Kate has a degree in Industrial Design from the University of Washington and returned in 2024 to teach in the ID program. She has worked as an industrial designer at Baden Sports, Axe Bat, and Rad Power Bikes. She is known for prioritizing the athlete’s experience in her work. This holds true both in her professional work designing baseball, softball, and cycling equipment and in her pursuits developing outdoor gear and apparel. She is dedicated to iterative prototyping and user testing to get the right result.
As an avid lover of mountaineering, backpacking, skiing and outdoor sports, she has seen the transformative power of people’s relationship with nature, capability, and self-trust as they push themselves out of their comfort zone. She seeks to make products that marry her professional and personal experience by empowering more beginners, making inclusive fit decisions, and directing her research towards underrepresented communities.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-shreffler-1b1292101/
Maddy Watkins
Born in Snohomish, Washington, and shaped by the rugged landscapes of Western Colorado, Maddy has always approached sports gear with curiosity and creativity, questioning, testing, and reimagining how it can perform. As an ultra-runner, cyclist, skier, and mountaineer, she knows firsthand what it means to live in the elements and rely on equipment. These experiences, combined with her love of learning, fuel her passion to build a career in the outdoor industry.
Maddy holds a degree in Mathematics with a minor in Outdoor Recreation Industry Studies, a combination that allows her to merge analytical precision with hands-on insight. Her problem-solving skills, paired with her outdoor pursuits provide an authentic understanding of what athletes truly need. This blend of logic, curiosity, and lived experience drives her to design outdoor products that not only will perform in the harshest conditions but also elevate the overall experience for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
www.linkedin.com/in/maddy-watkins-aa7789334
Yujiang Zou
Yujiang was born in Shanghai, China, and grew up in an academic family that emphasized education. Excelling in his studies from an early age, he was also frequently challenged by health issues during childhood. Encouraged by his parents to strengthen his body, he explored various sports including table tennis, badminton, football, and basketball, gradually cultivating a deep passion for athletics. This passion crystallized in middle school with basketball, where he was first captivated by sneaker culture—an interest that would profoundly shape his future.
By high school, despite maintaining strong academic performance in subjects like physics and mathematics, Zou began to feel disillusioned with a purely technical career path. Driven by a desire to turn his passion into a profession, he set his sights on becoming a sneaker designer and chose industrial design as his undergraduate major. He pursued his studies at Donghua University, renowned in China for its fashion programs. During his time there, he proactively expanded his expertise by frequently attending fashion and product design courses. Currently, Zou is furthering his education as a graduate student in the Sports Product Design program at the University of Oregon, dedicated to mastering the craft at the intersection of sport, design, and culture.
About the Sports Product Design Program