MIAD Industrial Design alum wins national golf club design competition
January 11, 2019 … Evan Hoffman ’16 (Industrial Design) has won Wilson Golf’s “Driver vs. Driver 2” competition on the Golf Channel with the Cortex driver design. His design was one of 14 competing for the top prize of $250,000 and the opportunity to have the club produced, marketed and sold by Wilson Golf.
“When I designed this thing last May, it was just for fun,” said Hoffman at a watch party for the TV show last November. “My career trajectory is on its way up and I’m very excited to see what happens with that.”
Hoffman’s driver is now on sale at 1,000 retail stores worldwide as well as online. It retails for $499. Professionals will begin using the club on the PGA Tour next year.
During the show, the designs of each participant went through a process where they were tested and refined by Wilson staff. PGA pros also tested the club.
“That [the design process and iterations it went through] was the hardest part of the process because it changed so much,” Hoffman said in an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune. “But that whole process was essential. I had open ears, but I went with the suggestions that the Wilson team gave me. Whenever they told me to do something, I’d do it.”
Hoffman added, “The technology changed along the way but the Wilson team and myself are very proud that we did stick to the principles of my main concept.”
“I think the average consumer is going to have what we call a wow experience, where you’re going to hit it and you’re going to see some numbers and ball speeds maybe you haven’t seen,” said Tim Clarke, president of Wilson Golf at the conclusion of the TV show. “This has 44 percent carbon fiber. It’s our largest carbon fiber design ever in a driver and we’ve got this one with the weight all in the right place. It’s very adjustable, modifiable for all sorts of flights and correction activity.”
Hoffman is originally from Wisconsin and currently lives in the San Diego area.
Read more about Hoffman’s design on Golf.com, or see video clips of his win and him describing his design process.
News
Milwaukee’s Influences: Senior Exhibition 2024
Amidst the many standout works at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s (MIAD) senior, one piece is especially striking—and interactive. “Milwaukee’s Influences” by Isaic Pulliam ’24 (Fine Art + New Studio Practice) is an oil on canvas triptych housed in a handmade wooden cabinet that viewers can open and close.
Associated Bank supports MIAD Pre-College students
Building a community and gaining a new perspective on art: these were frequent refrains from high school students in the 2023 Summer Pre-College program at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD).
MIAD Fine Art alums receive state, regional Emerging Artist Awards
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD) Fine Art alums Phoenix S. Brown ’19 and Erin Krembs ’14 each received a 2024 Emerging Artist Award this spring from a prestigious state or regional organization.
Penfield Poster 2024 winners announced
Continuing a long-standing collaboration between advertising agency Cramer-Krasselt and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design (MIAD), juniors in Illustration IV designed posters for the Annual Croquet Ball fundraiser at the Penfield Children’s Center.
Milwaukee Ballet sponsor features work by Illustration senior
Working through the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design’s (MIAD) Lubar Innovation Center, Illustration senior Kayla VanProoyen was hired to produce an ad highlighting the Milwaukee Ballet’s presenting sponsor, the Herzfeld Foundation.