Inspiring Graduate: Porter Christenson (’26)
- Hometown: South Minneapolis
- Degree: B.F.A. Industrial & Product Design
- Minor: Business Administration
Porter Christenson has always loved drawing and building things, and as a kid, he wanted to be an inventor. “I didn’t know that was a real career path. When I toured UW-Stout with my mom, I discovered industrial design and realized it was the closest thing to what I had imagined. Seeing the program, the labs and the connection to companies like Room & Board and Milwaukee Tool made it clear that Stout was the place where I could turn creativity into a real profession,” he said.
Christenson received his B.F.A. in industrial and product design from UW-Stout on May 16, among more than 1,000 of his peers.
“Four years later, things came full circle,” he said. “I was hired as an associate industrial designer, creating outdoor power equipment at Milwaukee Tool, in Brookfield, a year before graduation. I had the opportunity to complete two internships there during school, and I’m excited to return full-time and continue learning from such a talented design team.”
Christenson also won the Room & Board annual competition for his dresser, which he named Bellevue. The national furniture designer and retailer will reserve the right to manufacture his design.
Of this year’s graduates, 77.4% were hired prior to graduation, while 99% of recent graduates were employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation.
How do you hope to make an impact in your field?
I want to design tools and products that genuinely improve people’s lives. Industrial design sits at the intersection of creativity, engineering and empathy. If I can create products that help people work better, solve problems, and feel inspired by the tools they use every day, I’ll feel like I’m making a meaningful impact.
How has UW-Stout prepared you to work in your field?
UW-Stout’s hands-on approach prepared me incredibly well. From sketching and concept development to CAD modeling and physical prototyping, the program constantly pushes students to think through real problems and build real solutions. The labs and studios gave me the chance to experiment, fail, iterate, and learn the full design process.
I completed two internships with Milwaukee Tool, where I worked with the power tool and outdoor power equipment design teams on concept development, prototyping and user research.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was how important it is to deeply understand the user and the job they’re trying to accomplish before designing anything.
What stands out about your UW-Stout experience?
The culture of making. At Stout, ideas quickly turn into prototypes. Whether it was sketching late at night in the studio, building models in the shop, or collaborating with classmates, the environment constantly encouraged creativity and experimentation.
What challenges did you face in earning your degree, and how did you overcome them?
One of my biggest challenges was balancing school, work, and entrepreneurship while putting myself through college financially. It required a lot of discipline and long hours, but it also taught me resilience and how to manage real responsibilities alongside my education.
Outside of school, I ran my own landscaping design and installation business called Hey Porter Landscaping. Balancing school and running a business taught me a lot about time management, customer communication and problem-solving in the real world. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for the tools and products I design.
What are you most proud of as you finish your degree?
I’m most proud that I followed something I was genuinely passionate about and turned it into a career. Starting school not fully knowing what industrial design was and finishing with a job designing tools I used to admire as a kid feels incredibly rewarding.
I’m really grateful for the professors, mentors, and classmates who pushed me to improve and supported my growth. UW-Stout gave me the environment to develop both creatively and professionally, and I’m excited to carry those lessons forward.
