Lakeland design students flex their creativity
A pair of Lakeland University students had the winning proposals at Lakeland’s 2025 Design and Entrepreneur Showcase.
The showcase features innovative products and services developed by Lakeland students enrolled in the brand identity course taught by LU Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Kate Prange. Students presented their projects at Jake’s, A Lakeland Community to a panel of judges.
The winning projects were Kana Nakano’s “Deal Meal,” an app that makes smart shopping quicker and easier, and Maryrobin Myers’ “Pianolite,” which makes it easier to learn how to play the piano.
Deal Meal evolved from a shopping experience that left Nakano unsure if she was really getting any deals.
“Even before stepping into the store, I was already exhausted — calculating costs, setting a tight budget and bouncing between online grocery sites to compare prices, just to make it all work,” Nakano said. “It was a frustrating, draining process that sparked one clear thought: There has to be a better way.”
The Deal Meal app brings real-time deals to a shopper’s fingertips and takes the guesswork out of shopping.
Pianolite projects keys onto a desk, kitchen table or even a real piano. lighting the way to the world of music. It eliminates the need for a piano to learn a favorite song.
“Whether you've never touched a piano, or you have one but don't know which notes are which - we're here to help,” Myers said. “Piano made simple. Because learning piano should be fun.”
Other students presenting at the showcase were Nick Sorensen, Bailey Pearson, Amy Kafka, Peyton Harlow, Zack Moller and Noah Laudenstein.
Judges for the showcase included Madeleine Wattenberg, Nate Cooper and Holly Schilling.
