Newell Rubbermaid Design Center

Located on a university research campus in Western

Michigan, the hub of industrial design, this corporate

design center for a global consumer products

manufacturer was created to house 100+ designers, and

to give way to unexpected imagination.



The flexible design is supported by a central “main

street” – where the design team explored wood as a way
to delight and inspire. Natural daylight pours in, and the

architectural details are simple, embodying the spirit of

design, but allowing a neutrality for innovation and the

creation of new products. Designed for collaboration –

with innovation labs and huddle rooms – it’s all about

supporting connections between multiple disciplines.



The design team worked with university stakeholders, the

state of Michigan, the city of Kalamazoo, Southwest

Michigan First, and Western Michigan University, finding

inspiration in the idea of “craft". The facility has brought

diverse designers, all in support of design-led strategy

that drives innovation.