[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":231},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/stories/francesca-knoetgen":3,"processed-html-f33dbd2f":210,"processed-html-fdfd0948":211,"processed-html-184be84c":212,"processed-html-e982d010":213,"processed-html-e25d8fa0":214,"processed-html-8518065f":215,"processed-html-15c1626a":216,"processed-html-11c3a13e":217,"processed-html-1b7b374c":218,"processed-html-2eaeb1bf":219,"processed-html-f817fde1":220,"processed-html-4e1d5228":221,"processed-html-7e9bc9da":222,"processed-html-ab41decc":223,"processed-html-808bbb7c":224,"processed-html-eec846f5":225,"processed-html-514f2a6e":226,"processed-html-447be714":227,"processed-html-6235d854":228,"processed-html-5a2655d0":229,"processed-html-6bb43451":230},{"id":4,"type":5,"path":6,"published":7,"publishDate":8,"author":9,"taxonomy":10,"headerType":13,"image":14,"video":18,"title":20,"subtitle":11,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"social":21,"bodyBlocks":25,"slug":158,"description":159,"metaDescription":160,"metaTitle":11,"relatedStories":161,"created":199,"changed":200,"breadcrumbs":201},"723b1b8c-2b5a-40ef-8c2b-73910892a827","story","stories/francesca-knoetgen",true,"April 14, 2026","Ross Bishoff",{"name":11,"slug":12},null,"","image",{"url":15,"alt":16,"caption":17},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/styles/widescreen/public/media/image/2026/04/francescaknoetgen_1.jpg","A young man and woman talk together in a lab with a 3D printer to their left","Ohio State industrial design major Francesca Knoetgen (right), a New York native, talks with digital fabrication lab specialist Zach Sanderson. Knoetgen designed a 3D-printed tactile armrest panel for tracing and fidgeting with a simplified digital interface offering guided breathing, pattern tracing and ambient visuals. (Jodi Miller)",{"url":11,"transcript":19},{"text":11},"Francesca Knoetgen: From NYC to Columbus",{"title":22,"description":23,"imageUrl":24},"A Leap From New York Leads to Belonging at Ohio State","A leap from New York led Francesca Knoetgen to community, hands-on design work and unforgettable experiences at Ohio State — proving that growth often begins outside your comfort zone.\r\n","https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/04/francescaknoetgen_social.jpg",[26,33,39,45,51,57,63,69,79,85,91,97,103,109,115,121,127,133,139,146,152],{"blockName":27,"attrs":28,"innerBlocks":30,"innerHTML":31,"innerContent":32},"core/paragraph",{"uuid":29},"f33dbd2f",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Francesca Knoetgen knew she wanted to study design, but leaving her home in Westchester, New York, for Ohio State was a leap into the unknown.\u003C/p>",[31],{"blockName":27,"attrs":34,"innerBlocks":36,"innerHTML":37,"innerContent":38},{"uuid":35},"fdfd0948",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It was really hard freshman year,” Knoetgen said. “I won’t sugarcoat it. It takes a lot to uproot yourself.”\u003C/p>",[37],{"blockName":27,"attrs":40,"innerBlocks":42,"innerHTML":43,"innerContent":44},{"uuid":41},"184be84c",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Knoetgen came to Ohio State via the \u003Ca href=\"https://undergrad.osu.edu/cost-and-aid/merit-based-scholarships\" class=\"bux-link\">National Buckeye Scholarship\u003C/a> and because it offered one of the top design schools in the country. She also liked the wealth of majors available at the university and having the option to change hers on a dime if she wanted to.\u003C/p>",[43],{"blockName":27,"attrs":46,"innerBlocks":48,"innerHTML":49,"innerContent":50},{"uuid":47},"e982d010",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">However, coming to a large university where she knew only one person pushed her outside her comfort zone. She forced herself to attend events, join clubs and meet new people, even when it felt uncomfortable. Over time, those small steps made a difference.\u003C/p>",[49],{"blockName":27,"attrs":52,"innerBlocks":54,"innerHTML":55,"innerContent":56},{"uuid":53},"e25d8fa0",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“The biggest thing that helped me acclimate was finding a smaller community,” she said.\u003C/p>",[55],{"blockName":27,"attrs":58,"innerBlocks":60,"innerHTML":61,"innerContent":62},{"uuid":59},"8518065f",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">That community came through Ohio State’s \u003Ca href=\"https://design.osu.edu/undergrad/programs/ind\" class=\"bux-link\">Industrial Design\u003C/a> program, where her cohort included just 20 students. The tight-knit group gave her the chance to build close friendships and work closely with professors while still enjoying the opportunities of a large university.\u003C/p>",[61],{"blockName":27,"attrs":64,"innerBlocks":66,"innerHTML":67,"innerContent":68},{"uuid":65},"15c1626a",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It’s a very rigorous program,” said Knoetgen, who also has minors in \u003Ca href=\"https://history-of-art.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-link\">art history\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://ehe.osu.edu/undergraduate/fashion-and-retail-studies\" class=\"bux-link\">fashion and retail studies\u003C/a>. “All-nighters constantly, stuff like that. But I did love it, and I think a lot of that is the people, the people really did make the place. Plus, being able to do art history and fashion alongside it, bringing in my other passions and interests, was really nice.”\u003C/p>",[67],{"blockName":70,"attrs":71,"innerBlocks":76,"innerHTML":77,"innerContent":78},"media-text/bux-quote",{"quote":72,"author":73,"source":74,"uuid":75},"“(Leaving home) was good for my growth.”","Francesca Knoetgen","Ohio State industrial design major","11c3a13e",[],"\u003Cbux-quote class=\"wp-block-media-text-bux-quote\">\u003Cspan slot=\"quote\">“(Leaving home) was good for my growth.”\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"author\">Francesca Knoetgen\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"source\">Ohio State industrial design major\u003C/span>\u003C/bux-quote>",[77],{"blockName":27,"attrs":80,"innerBlocks":82,"innerHTML":83,"innerContent":84},{"uuid":81},"1b7b374c",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Her coursework eventually led to one of her most memorable experiences: working with Honda engineers on a yearlong design project. The assignment challenged students to create a more relaxing backseat experience for children ages 5 to 12.\u003C/p>",[83],{"blockName":27,"attrs":86,"innerBlocks":88,"innerHTML":89,"innerContent":90},{"uuid":87},"2eaeb1bf",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">To develop her idea, Knoetgen conducted interviews, distributed surveys and tested her design in real-life settings.\u003C/p>",[89],{"blockName":27,"attrs":92,"innerBlocks":94,"innerHTML":95,"innerContent":96},{"uuid":93},"f817fde1",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I was sitting in the back seat between two children while their mother was driving, just watching how they reacted,” she said.\u003C/p>",[95],{"blockName":27,"attrs":98,"innerBlocks":100,"innerHTML":101,"innerContent":102},{"uuid":99},"4e1d5228",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Her final design featured a tactile armrest panel for tracing and fidgeting with a simplified digital interface offering guided breathing, pattern tracing and ambient visuals.“It was to allow children to choose when they wanted to interact with it and teach them how to self-regulate,” she said.\u003C/p>",[101],{"blockName":27,"attrs":104,"innerBlocks":106,"innerHTML":107,"innerContent":108},{"uuid":105},"7e9bc9da",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Outside the classroom, some of Knoetgen’s favorite memories came from long nights spent in the design studio alongside classmates.\u003C/p>",[107],{"blockName":27,"attrs":110,"innerBlocks":112,"innerHTML":113,"innerContent":114},{"uuid":111},"ab41decc",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Some great memories are just working late in the studio, making late-night runs to Buckeye Donuts and bringing it back,” she said.\u003C/p>",[113],{"blockName":27,"attrs":116,"innerBlocks":118,"innerHTML":119,"innerContent":120},{"uuid":117},"808bbb7c",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Looking back, Knoetgen said leaving home and stepping into an unfamiliar environment helped shape her confidence and independence.\u003C/p>",[119],{"blockName":27,"attrs":122,"innerBlocks":124,"innerHTML":125,"innerContent":126},{"uuid":123},"eec846f5",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I think it was good for my growth,” she said.\u003C/p>",[125],{"blockName":27,"attrs":128,"innerBlocks":130,"innerHTML":131,"innerContent":132},{"uuid":129},"514f2a6e",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Now preparing to graduate and looking for jobs in New York City or even abroad, she encourages future students to embrace the uncertainty that comes with starting somewhere new.\u003C/p>",[131],{"blockName":27,"attrs":134,"innerBlocks":136,"innerHTML":137,"innerContent":138},{"uuid":135},"447be714",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“You really need to seek out a smaller group of people,” she said. “Once you find that, everything starts to feel like home.”\u003C/p>",[137],{"blockName":140,"attrs":141,"innerBlocks":143,"innerHTML":144,"innerContent":145},"core/heading",{"uuid":142},"6235d854",[],"\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">Study abroad\u003C/h2>",[144],{"blockName":27,"attrs":147,"innerBlocks":149,"innerHTML":150,"innerContent":151},{"uuid":148},"5a2655d0",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“My sophomore (summer) I studied in Florence, Italy, for six weeks and it was amazing. I've always wanted to live abroad and I‘m still considering it and this was a great way to sneak peek it. I studied packaging design and an art history Michelangelo course. I was assigned with random roommates, two of them were from Ohio State and we all became so close.\u003C/p>",[150],{"blockName":27,"attrs":153,"innerBlocks":155,"innerHTML":156,"innerContent":157},{"uuid":154},"6bb43451",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">It was an amazing way to just see new perspectives, new cultures and build different relationships. I made friends from across (the U.S.) and have continued to build those relationships in a beautiful way. It all came from studying abroad, I really enjoyed that time.”\u003C/p>",[156],"francesca-knoetgen","Leaving New York for Ohio State pushed Francesca Knoetgen beyond her comfort zone, where a close-knit design program, real-world projects and global experiences helped her grow in confidence and purpose.\r\n","Francesca Knoetgen’s journey from New York to Ohio State shows how a rigorous design program, small-community connections and real-world experiences can shape confidence, purpose and future career paths.\r\n",[162,175,187],{"slug":163,"path":164,"title":165,"description":166,"subtitle":167,"taxonomy":168,"image":169,"video":172,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":174},"tovah-kaiser","stories/tovah-kaiser","Designing her own path","Designer Tovah Kaiser traces her path from Philadelphia to Ohio State, where architecture, entrepreneurship, and Columbus’s creative community shaped the skills and confidence that led her to launch her studio, Tov Creative.","Philly entrepreneur Tovah Kaiser learned reinvention at Ohio State",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":170,"alt":171},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/03/tovah_kaiser.jpg","A young woman walks down the street in an urban environment",{"url":11,"transcript":173},{"text":11},false,{"slug":176,"path":177,"title":178,"description":179,"subtitle":180,"taxonomy":181,"image":182,"video":185,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":174},"buckeye-bound","stories/buckeye-bound","Four reasons you should be Buckeye Bound","Ohio State offers unmatched academic breadth, a welcoming community, hands‑on experiences, strong career preparation and the opportunities of vibrant Columbus — helping students find their path, their people and their future as Buckeyes.\r\n","An endless wealth of resources and opportunities await students at The Ohio State University",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":183,"alt":184},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2022/12/bb_homepage.jpg","A group of Ohio State students stand together on the Oval.",{"url":11,"transcript":186},{"text":11},{"slug":188,"path":189,"title":190,"description":191,"subtitle":192,"taxonomy":193,"image":194,"video":197,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"hasVideo":174},"ally-rice","stories/ally-rice","‘Inspirational’ summers working with NASA","Ally Rice’s Ohio State research in wearable antennas led to NASA collaborations, inspiring her work on astronaut health and Earth-based medical applications, ultimately shaping her career.","Ally Rice’s time at Ohio State was impactful in ways she never envisioned",{"name":11,"slug":12},{"url":195,"alt":196},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/media/image/2026/03/allyrice_1.jpg","A young woman applies sensors to a man seated in a chair in a lab environment",{"url":11,"transcript":198},{"text":11},"2026-04-14T19:42:22+00:00","2026-04-20T19:06:12+00:00",[202,205,208],{"title":203,"path":204},"Home","/",{"title":206,"path":207},"Stories","/stories",{"title":20,"path":209},"/stories/francesca-knoetgen","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Francesca Knoetgen knew she wanted to study design, but leaving her home in Westchester, New York, for Ohio State was a leap into the unknown.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It was really hard freshman year,” Knoetgen said. “I won’t sugarcoat it. It takes a lot to uproot yourself.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Knoetgen came to Ohio State via the \u003Ca href=\"https://undergrad.osu.edu/cost-and-aid/merit-based-scholarships\" class=\"bux-link\">National Buckeye Scholarship\u003C/a> and because it offered one of the top design schools in the country. She also liked the wealth of majors available at the university and having the option to change hers on a dime if she wanted to.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">However, coming to a large university where she knew only one person pushed her outside her comfort zone. She forced herself to attend events, join clubs and meet new people, even when it felt uncomfortable. Over time, those small steps made a difference.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“The biggest thing that helped me acclimate was finding a smaller community,” she said.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">That community came through Ohio State’s \u003Ca href=\"https://design.osu.edu/undergrad/programs/ind\" class=\"bux-link\">Industrial Design\u003C/a> program, where her cohort included just 20 students. The tight-knit group gave her the chance to build close friendships and work closely with professors while still enjoying the opportunities of a large university.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It’s a very rigorous program,” said Knoetgen, who also has minors in \u003Ca href=\"https://history-of-art.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-link\">art history\u003C/a> and \u003Ca href=\"https://ehe.osu.edu/undergraduate/fashion-and-retail-studies\" class=\"bux-link\">fashion and retail studies\u003C/a>. “All-nighters constantly, stuff like that. But I did love it, and I think a lot of that is the people, the people really did make the place. Plus, being able to do art history and fashion alongside it, bringing in my other passions and interests, was really nice.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cbux-quote class=\"wp-block-media-text-bux-quote\">\u003Cspan slot=\"quote\">“(Leaving home) was good for my growth.”\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"author\">Francesca Knoetgen\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"source\">Ohio State industrial design major\u003C/span>\u003C/bux-quote>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Her coursework eventually led to one of her most memorable experiences: working with Honda engineers on a yearlong design project. The assignment challenged students to create a more relaxing backseat experience for children ages 5 to 12.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">To develop her idea, Knoetgen conducted interviews, distributed surveys and tested her design in real-life settings.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I was sitting in the back seat between two children while their mother was driving, just watching how they reacted,” she said.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Her final design featured a tactile armrest panel for tracing and fidgeting with a simplified digital interface offering guided breathing, pattern tracing and ambient visuals.“It was to allow children to choose when they wanted to interact with it and teach them how to self-regulate,” she said.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Outside the classroom, some of Knoetgen’s favorite memories came from long nights spent in the design studio alongside classmates.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Some great memories are just working late in the studio, making late-night runs to Buckeye Donuts and bringing it back,” she said.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Looking back, Knoetgen said leaving home and stepping into an unfamiliar environment helped shape her confidence and independence.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“I think it was good for my growth,” she said.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Now preparing to graduate and looking for jobs in New York City or even abroad, she encourages future students to embrace the uncertainty that comes with starting somewhere new.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“You really need to seek out a smaller group of people,” she said. “Once you find that, everything starts to feel like home.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Ch2 class=\"bux-h2\">Study abroad\u003C/h2>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“My sophomore (summer) I studied in Florence, Italy, for six weeks and it was amazing. I've always wanted to live abroad and I‘m still considering it and this was a great way to sneak peek it. I studied packaging design and an art history Michelangelo course. I was assigned with random roommates, two of them were from Ohio State and we all became so close.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">It was an amazing way to just see new perspectives, new cultures and build different relationships. I made friends from across (the U.S.) and have continued to build those relationships in a beautiful way. It all came from studying abroad, I really enjoyed that time.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>",1777487100736]