ANN ARBOR, Mich. – This fall, the University of Michigan’s Integrated Product Development (IPD) program invites the community to explore innovative solutions addressing the critical challenge: What happens when the lights go out?

Five interdisciplinary student teams have developed products to address the impacts of power outages. These projects respond to rising power grid vulnerabilities and the need for creative approaches to ensure safety, resilience, and adaptability during outages. The event is sponsored by the Tauber Institute for Global Operations, Michigan Engineering, Michigan Ross, the University of Michigan School of Information, and the Stamps School of Art & Design.

The IPD Online Trade Show runs from Nov. 27 at noon through Dec. 2 at noon. Participants can explore a virtual marketplace by visiting the IPD voting website. Each participant is given a hypothetical budget to allocate across products based on personal preferences.

The challenge concludes with an in-person trade show on Dec. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Ross School of Business Winter Garden. Guests will have the opportunity to interact directly with student teams, experience the products in person, and vote for their favorites. The evening will culminate with the announcement of the winning team.

The Integrated Product Development program offers a dynamic, hands-on learning experience, equipping students to tackle real-world challenges through collaboration, creativity, and practical problem-solving. To learn more about the IPD course and how to register for Winter 2025, visit Integrated Product Development.

For additional information, contact Erika Block at [email protected].