Master’s Students Win Muse Award for Interactive “CM-You Board”
Four Master of Design (MDes) students –Shivani Kannan, Grace Zhu, Jo Jiang, and Freya Yang–from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Design have been awarded a Silver Muse Design Award for their work on the CM-You Board, an interactive installation at the David and Susan Coulter Welcome Center. Established by the International Awards Associate (IAA) in 2015, the Muse Design Award aims to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring others to further elevate the standards of the design world. The CM-YOU Board, developed in collaboration with the Provost’s Office, the School of Design, the Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion, CDFD, and Marketing and Communications, reimagines how prospective students experience CMU’s interdisciplinary culture through a hands-on, personalized display.
“It was a great and unexpected surprise,” said the team. “While working on the project, we were deeply invested in prototyping with technologies like computer vision and Unity while also experimenting with visual design. Each person on our team worked on what we enjoyed most. We were so engrossed in the process and learning that we weren’t aiming for an award—it just naturally came together.”
Their idea for the CM-You Board grew from a desire to make interdisciplinary connections visible and interactive. Many universities highlight collaboration, but the team wanted to go beyond a simple description. They set out to create an experience that visitors could engage with directly, making CMU’s collaborative spirit tangible. The theme of connection—between disciplines, between people, and between CMU and Pittsburgh—shaped both the function and form of the final installation.
A major challenge in developing the board was the lack of direct input from the primary audience of prospective students and their families. Rather than guessing what would be most meaningful to visitors, the team changed their perspective and invited current CMU students into the process. They asked students what they would most want to highlight about their CMU experience and found that the strongest responses revolved around cross-disciplinary projects and the relationships they had built with the city. In a series of creative workshops, students shared stories, sketches, and personal insights, which directly influenced the board’s visual style and content. By incorporating their contributions, the CM-You Board became a more authentic reflection of student life and culture.
For visitors stepping into the Coulter Welcome Center, the board offers a personalized and exploratory experience. Prospective students can place an academic piece on the table to unlock content about student projects and areas of study. Adding a city piece alongside it reveals how Pittsburgh plays a role in shaping student life, from industry partnerships to cultural and recreational opportunities. The team hopes that visitors walk away with a clearer sense of CMU’s vibrant and connected environment—not just as a place to study, but as a place to grow and collaborate in meaningful ways.
The project was developed with the guidance of Assistant Professor Haeyoung Kim and Associate Teaching Professor Daphne Peters.
“This group did an outstanding job identifying key content and experiences to enhance the overall visitor experience, provide personalized information, and uncover design opportunities for the David and Susan Coulter Welcome Center,” said Kim. “Their research focused on CMU’s interdisciplinary culture, a defining characteristic and a major draw for prospective
students. This project addresses key factors influencing university decision-making by presenting critical information that prospective students highly value—yet often struggle to find elsewhere."
“This groundbreaking work has been awarded, underscoring its impact and ingenuity,” continued Kim. “As a professor, I witnessed the dedication and creativity behind this project—particularly the extensive effort invested in developing working prototypes. By pushing their technical skills further, the team brought their concept to life but also demonstrated the
invaluable role of prototyping in the design process. This project exemplifies CMU’s interdisciplinary spirit, seamlessly integrating design, technology, and user experience to create something unique and meaningful."
“Beyond enhancing the Welcome Center experience, it sets a new standard for how universities can effectively communicate their strengths to prospective students.”
Established by the International Awards Associate (IAA) in 2015, the Muse Design Award aims to push the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring others to further elevate the standards of the design world.
The Muse Award is a testament to the team’s commitment to exploration, human-centered design, and creative problem-solving. Their project not only enhances the Coulter Welcome Center’s role in welcoming visitors but also serves as an example of how design can make complex ideas more approachable, engaging, and inspiring.