Announcing the Summer CoDesign Student Challenge

Sponsored by Excel Dryer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CoDesign Collaborative and Excel Dryer Announce the Summer CoDesign Student Challenge, Empowering Young Creatives to Reshape the Built Environment Through Design and Innovation.

Boston, MA — CoDesign Collaborative is thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership with Excel Dryer, the industry leader behind the original, high-speed, energy-efficient XLERATOR® Hand Dryer.

In August 2025, Excel Dryer is supporting CoDesign Collaborative’s Summer CoDesign Student Challenge. This program provides young people with hands-on design experience in partnership with leading brands like Excel Dryer, industry professionals, and real-world clients. Students are compensated for their time, in line with CoDesign Collaborative’s commitment to equity.

Led by Alfred Byun, Design Director at Gensler, the Summer CoDesign Student Challenge will engage 12 Boston-area students through a two-part, hands-on design workshop, held on August 8 and 15, where students will prototype, design, and realize creative concepts as vinyl wraps for Excel’s Hand Dryers.

The workshops will introduce students to foundational skills in product design, visual storytelling, and prototyping and explore how design can be used to reshape our built environment. The program will also address themes of sustainability and accessibility, reflecting Excel Dryer’s ongoing commitment to innovation in energy efficiency and inclusive restroom design—highlighted by their ADA-compliant recess kits that support equitable access and sustainable retrofitting.

The Design Challenge will culminate in a student presentation of the designs with the Excel Dryer team. Student designs will then be printed and installed for public display—offering real-world exposure and celebrating youth creativity in action.

This initiative underscores CoDesign Collaborative and Excel Dryer’s shared mission to build more inclusive, engaging, and sustainable public environments. We are grateful for this partnership and the opportunity to connect young people to the power of design.

For more information, please contact:

CoDesign Collaborative
Liana Mestas (she/her/hers)
Deputy Director
liana@codesigncollaborative.org
(888) 287-0167 x 705

Excel Dryer
Chris DeGray (he/him/his)
E-Commerce Marketing Specialist
cdegray@exceldryer.com
(413) 525-4531