SCAD proudly supports Savannah medical community during COVID-19 crisis with design innovation
SAVANNAH, GEORGIA — April 6, 2020 — In much of the country, personal protection equipment is in short supply, and medical workers on the frontlines are dangerously exposed to COVID-19 as they treat patients and save lives. Savannah hospitals are braced for a surge in cases throughout the month and the need for PPE is accelerating.
Innovating solutions to difficult challenges is in SCAD’s DNA. To champion Savannah’s medical community as they treat patients and prepare for a sharp rise in cases, the university’s SCADpro design studio has partnered with the SCAD School of Design to devise and produce face shields for front-line medical workers at Savannah’s St. Joseph’s/Candler Hospital, using the university’s cutting-edge resources and state-of-the-art 3D printers. The face shield is engineered to relieve pressure on the ears, minimizing the facial bruising commonly experienced by medical workers as they work long hours to stem the novel coronavirus.
University leadership and faculty are diligently working on the initiative, led by SCAD Chief Operating Officer Glenn Wallace. He said, “We rolled up our sleeves, fired up the printers, and started prototyping immediately,” said Wallace. “I’m proud that our SCAD community is contributing to Savannah’s wellbeing, as we have done for years — but now in a new way. SCAD is poised to make a serious contribution to the medical community, and our design has already improved the day-to-day of many healthcare professionals.”
SCAD is employing the innovative technology of its Gulfstream Center for Design, as well as Fahm Hall, home of SCADlab and the university’s jewelry degree program. SCAD has already delivered 90 face shields to St. Joseph’s/Candler and is ramping up production with the capability to produce 30 face shields per day. SCAD has also acquired and delivered over one thousand N95 masks to St. Joseph’s/Candler and Memorial hospitals, and SCAD is investigating new opportunities, including a project to produce a re-usable, easily disinfected mask with SCAD community partners that would offer a superior alternative to the N95 masks in short supply.
SCAD is honored to support its community and the nation during these challenging times, and always. The university will continue to provide innovative design solutions as the city rises together to stem this crisis.
About SCADpro
SCADpro is a design and innovation studio that generates business solutions, products, and services for the world’s most influential brands. Recognized as the premier university partner in higher education and among design agencies worldwide, SCADpro infuses fresh thinking into faster, smarter, and better results for a client list of global giants, including Google and NASA.
SCADpro merges leading-edge technology with imaginative thinking to render the most innovative concepts and products. Top automakers BMW and Ford tasked SCADpro with developing new pathways to autonomous vehicle solutions, while Volvo asked SCADpro to develop concepts for inspiring robotics and enhanced smartphone communications. In addition to solving creative and business challenges for Fortune 500 clients, SCADpro launches alumni brands through SCADpro fund, and provides executive education at the world’s preeminent university for the study of design and creative business thinking.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit, accredited university offering more than 100 academic degree programs in more than 40 majors across its locations in the U.S., Europe, and online via SCAD eLearning.
SCAD enrolls more than 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 115 countries. The innovative SCAD curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level technology, equipment, and learning resources, as well as opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and collaborative projects with corporate partners. In 2019, the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD as the No. 1 university in the U.S. and in the top two universities in the Americas and Europe for the third consecutive year, and The Rookies ranked SCAD as the Best 3D Motion Graphics School for the fourth consecutive year. Career preparation is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. In a study of Spring 2018 SCAD graduates, 99% were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation.