Oregon State University – Cascades has opened a new studio to help students in its outdoor products and engineering programs design and prototype innovative gear and equipment.
Located in Edward J. Ray Hall, the 1,500-square-foot OP:EN studio—named to reflect outdoor products and engineering —was funded by the Oregon Legislature to help grow the state’s outdoor recreation economy.
Outdoor product and engineering students will use OP:EN to produce class assignments and to design and build solutions as part of their senior capstone projects, where teams work with industry clients to address real-world problems.
“OP:EN is more than a traditional makerspace—it’s a collaborative environment where students can take ideas from concept to prototype, refine designs, and even prepare to pitch them to investors,” said Naomi Morrison, an instructor who leads the outdoor products degree program and oversaw the development of the new studio.
The OP:EN studio features tools for prototyping goods such as snowboards, kayaks, backpacks and apparel. Equipment includes industrial sewing machines, 3D printers and systems for recycling unused plastic, as well as testing tools to measure tensile strength and waterproofness to ensure products meet industry standards.
Accessibility features include a fabric carousel and height-adjustable cutting tables, designed to improve participation for individuals with physical disabilities.
Undergraduate students have been hired to assist in the studio, leading workshops for peers and training them in the use of prototyping software and equipment, as well as in safety protocols.
Tools and equipment were selected and installed by a team of outdoor products students and alumni, and by Morrison, who directed product design with Nike prior to joining OSU-Cascades
“The OP:EN studio reflects OSU-Cascades’ commitment to hands-on learning and industry collaboration, preparing students to innovate and lead in Oregon’s growing outdoor recreation economy,” said Morrison.
Future plans for the studio include incorporating a fee-for-service model for industry and entrepreneur clients.
