Students in the new IDD200 class have given people a reason to look twice at ordinary, everyday objects.

Borrowing an idea from an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Linda Lindroth, an assistant professor in interactive digital design, had her class pick a commonplace object and create a presentation in honor of the chosen object.

“The MoMA exhibit is called ‘Humble Masterpiece’ and it contains ad-like art for regular objects such as tennis balls,” says Lindroth. “I got permission from the museum to use their idea for my class, and they provided me with a list of the objects in the exhibit, to suggest topics for the students.”

The items chosen range from chopsticks, to nail clippers, to baby bottles.

“Everyone came up with something different!” said IDD200 student Alaina Cuglietto.

Senior IDD major Michael Cassella “picked a tennis ball because I played the game for 14 years.”

“I wanted to appeal to a large audience, so I went with Crayola Crayons,” said sophomore IDD major Courtney Phillips. “It’s a little kiddish, but everyone likes [them.]”

The students had to find pictures of and write a history of the object they chose. The font the students used for their project also had to be researched and written about.

“In most cases, the students were the photographers, art directors and researchers for their projects,” Lindroth said proudly.

The IDD200 class is new to the university’s curriculum. It will be held again in the fall after which time the department will review the class to decide its future.

“The class is more a history of where stuff comes from rather than just using it,” Lindroth said.

“I wish there were more classes like this one,” Cuglietto said.