Students Explore Eyewear Design Through Course With California Startup

External Partners Bring Real-world issues into the classroom, seek multidisciplinary solutions

BY NATALIE KOSTELNI

Ben Muchin, a third-year product major, was at the end of a presentation showcasing his sunglass designs with such provocative names as the Lagunas, Bottom Shelf Whiskeys and LL Cool Js when Byron Ferrise questioned whether they were manufacturable.

As attractive as the glasses appeared and as catchy as their names, Ferrise’s critique about the shades came from experience. He is a former product development engineer and manager at Oakley, the sports equipment company, and currently CEO of Knows Eyewear, a California-based semi-custom sunglass business he co-founded in 2020. Knows and Ferrise have been central to June He’s product design class for the 2022 fall term.