CCS Team Wins First Place With Bio-Based Spray Paint
July 2, 2026
A team of four students from College for Creative Studies took first place for their sustainable spray paint, FlowState, at the international Biodesign Challenge Summit (BDC) held at Parsons School of Design in New York City in June. The students formulated a temporary paint made from upcycled food waste streams, addressing health and environmental concerns of traditional spray paint. The team also developed a research-backed brand strategy and visual identity to accompany their final product. Winning team members were Maxim Van Duyne (MFA Design for Sustainability), Abigail Carballo (BFA Product Design), O’Dell Carson III (MFA Color and Materials Design) and Amber Tao (MA Color and Materials Design). Guiding the project was Melanie McClintock, CCS alumna and Chair of Color & Materials Design.
“I couldn’t be prouder,” said McClintock. “The team jumped into working with the community immediately after receiving the brief and let the community’s needs drive their concept.”
To better understand local needs and fine-tune their finished product, the team had a sponsored partnership as part of the College’s Practicing Design Center, with Brittany Dabney at Ecosphere Organics, a collaboration with LeJuan Council at Feed Your Neighbor and received BDC mentorship from Jennifer Willet, Director of the Incubator Art Lab in Windsor, Canada.
This win marks the third time CCS has taken home the first-place prize, the Glass Microbe, competing among 50+ international schools from over 17 countries. “While it’s always a heavy lift,” McClintock said, “watching the students connect with people of like minds — who are at the intersection of design, science, play, materiality, and sustainability — and see the smiles on their faces when being seen and understood…this is the greatest gift.”
