SOFA CHICAGO, the world-renowned art fair dedicated to Sculpture, Objects, Functional Art & Design, returned to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall Nov. 7-9, 2014, for its 21st year. SOFA CHICAGO is the longest continuously running, gallery-presented art fair in the city of Chicago, and one of the most successful in the country. More than 36,000 attendees from around the globe visited the 2014 fair.

CONNECT, a student design competition highlighting design and innovation, was a featured attraction at the fair. The CONNECT jury selected the University of Iowa 3D Design program’s exhibition as the winning entry, besting competitors from Pratt Institute; Illinois Institute of Technology; University of California, Davis; University of Cincinnati—College of Design/Architecture/Art and Planning; and University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.

The 3D Design program in the UI School of Art & Art History is one of the most technologically advanced in the nation, using Computer Modeling, Virtual Reality, and Computer Numerical Control software to design three-dimensional objects that are “printed” using state-of-the-art equipment. The “Ecosystem” installation was created by a team of UI students led by Professor Monica Correia.

“Just being invited to participate in SOFA CONNECT, with nationally and internationally prestigious design programs, is a huge honor,” says Correia. “To win the competition is very exciting. I’m so proud of our students, who had such a unique educational experience at SOFA, and thankful to the university and our donors for their strong support of the deep and vibrant arts tradition at Iowa.”

More about the 3D Design program in the School of Art & Art History

Video demonstrating 3D modeling software in use at the UI: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaCTKZAk5Ug#t=21