Students help seniors stay happy and healthy at home

Ann Arbor, MI - The University of Michigan’s Tauber Institute for Global Operations hosted the Fall 2021 Integrated Product Development Trade Show, featuring innovative products created by graduate students to help seniors age comfortably in their homes and better manage pandemic conditions.

Taught jointly by Eric Svaan of the Ross School of Business and Stephanie Tharp of the Stamps School of Art & Design, the Integrated Product Development course challenges students from the College of EngineeringRoss School of BusinessStamps School of Art & Design, and School of Information to work together to design, build, and market a brand new product, and then to face free market competition through the IPD Trade Show. This semester marked the 29th offering of the popular course.

The student teams built websites to advertise their products for an online trade show, then presented working prototypes to consumers at an in-person event at the Ross School of Business (view photos). Volunteer customers could select as many products as they desired to "buy" within their trade show budget of $325. At the conclusion of the trade show, all six teams were profitable!

Trade show sales are now closed, but you can still view products and explore student websites below:

GRU

Gru is a smart indoor gardening system that brings the wonders of the outdoors inside but without the mess!

KoaZzy

A better way to make your bed!

Life Goes On

A fun way to fictionally live out your best post retirement life.

Mi View

We provide stylish and portable magnification for declining vision.

Pages Through Time

We have a dedicated team of curated designers ready to bring your memories to life!

Uplift

The first chair that makes it easier to sit and stand that's lightweight, functional, and doesn't require electricity.


The Tauber Institute for Global Operations is a joint venture between the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and Michigan Engineering, working together with industry partners to facilitate cross-disciplinary education in global operations management. The Tauber Institute is an inaugural recipient of the UPS George D. Smith Prize for effective and innovative preparation of students to be good practitioners of operations research, management science, or analytics. For more information visit tauber.umich.edu.