A new logo that brands items made by University of Wisconsin-Stout students made its debut with smocks created by students involving several majors.
The smocks will benefit university art students and children in local arts education.
Fifteen students in the Garment Production and Engineering class taught by Sheri Marnell, director of the apparel design and development program, designed and made 20 adult and 30 children’s smocks. Students picked the art smocks for their project after learning art students had to buy their own smocks; if they forgot them had nothing to protect their clothing from paint. 
Screen and Specialty Printing class students screen-printed labels on the waxed canvas smocks.
Mary Cross, a senior in apparel design from Savage, Minn., is thrilled the smocks carry a logo showing they were made by UW-Stout students. “UW-Stout is letting students create,” she said. “We’re forging an idea. We’re making it here at UW-Stout. We are problem-solving. This is what we created. This is ours. We own it.”
Apparel students created two sizes of smocks, studying and implementing safety requirements for children’s clothing. Adjustable Velcro straps help fit children of varying sizes.
The smocks and logo project involved all three UW-Stout colleges: College of Education, Hospitality, Health and Human Sciences; College of Arts, Communication, Humanities and Social Sciences; and College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Management.
“There was a lot of problem-solving,” Marnell said. “The hardest part with a project like this is students are put in roles that they never had until this course, and this is a full class project so everyone works together, communication being the key.”
The Made at Stout logo was created in collaboration with CSTEMM Dean Chuck Bomar and Meriem Chida, assistant professor of retail management. “All students and faculty will be able to officially brand their products using this logo,” said Chida, adding that University Marketing Director Amy Luethmers helped fine-tune the branding guidelines.
Bomar said his goal is to show the many talented students, faculty and staff.
“As we brand the experiential learning that occurs on campus, it’s a good reminder for everyone to see the impact we have and the things we make,” Bomar said. “It would be great to see this brand floating around the community and the country to show people the many incredible things we do at UW-Stout.”
Jessalyn Bennett, a senior in apparel design from Johnsburg, Ill., plant manager for the art smocks project, said learning to work together helps prepare her and other students for working in the industry.
Bennett loves the idea of having branded items made by UW-Stout students. “Being the first students to put it out there is a big opportunity,” Bennett said. “When you see it, you know what it is and where it was made.”
Susanna Bordelon, a senior in apparel design from Mantorville, Minn., thinks the smocks are beautiful. “It’s fun to collaborate for the benefit of our art students,” Bordelon said.
The logo was screen-printed on the smocks to identify the use of the garments from UW-Stout.
Using a carousel with different colors and curing area, Jessica Kastello, a junior graphic communications major from Muskego, and Hailey Vosen, a cross-media graphics management junior from Wabasha, Minn., screen-printed the children’s smocks and the pockets that would then be sewn on to the adult smocks.
The Screen and Specialty Printing class is using screen-printing equipment largely used by the Stout Typographical Society. “I take a lot of enjoyment in producing an object and seeing the graphics files from a computer become a printed product,” Kastello said. “It’s even more satisfying when I see we’re working toward a good cause.”
Working with apparel students has helped Kastello learn more about making clothing and the work that goes into the design process, she said.
Vosen enjoyed the project because it allowed her to learn more about screen-printing. “I get to gain more experience in it,” Vosen said. “I also get more experience in the customer service aspect. We don’t do that a lot in classes where we’re doing something for others and it’s going to be used. I like seeing stuff we make be out in the real world and being used.”
UW-Stout is Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, with a focus on applied learning, collaboration with business and industry, and career outcomes.
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Photos
The new branding logo for items made by UW-Stout students.
Brandon Schmidt, a junior in apparel design and development, presses some of the art smocks as part of one of his classes.
Jessica Kastello, at left, along with Hailey Vosen, both juniors at UW-Stout, screen printed the logo on to the smocks.
