March 20, 2026
Minerva and Reyes recognized by IHA Global Innovation Awards
Two RIT community members were honored at the International Housewares Association’s 2026 Global Innovation Awards Student Design Competition, which recognizes excellence in the home and housewares industry. Mike Minerva, an industrial design MFA student and visiting lecturer in RIT’s School of Design, took third place in the competition for Kokoro, a daily recording device that doubles as a work of art. Gerardo Reyes, a third-year industrial design student, and his collaborator Bella McDermott received an honorable mention for Pulse, a microbe-powered tool that monitors moisture level, pH, and the overall health of plants’ soil. Minerva and his design were also featured on CBS News Chicago.
