С»ÆÊé

Evie Warner (EnvDes’26) had never visited Colorado before she chose to attend С»ÆÊé Boulder. Now, she has built quite the second home at С»ÆÊé in ways both conventional—as a leader with Industrial Designers Society of America—and not, as a proud bee booster. She is the William W. White outstanding senior for the environmental design department.

Conversation edited for length and clarity.

Evie Warner isn’t just a skilled student—she's a bee booster whose affection for the arthropods earned her the nickname of the bee girl. Courtesy Evie Warner.

ÌýÌýSo, for the uninitiated, what can you tell me about EPOD?
So, I came here specifically for the environmental design department, and found EPOD along the way. It stands for environmental products of design, and I love how hands-on we get in making real, physical things that solve meaningful problems. And while sustainability is not a requirement, I appreciate the opportunities to connect my projects to nature and community.

ÌýÌýWhat’s your favorite part about it?
I love the interdisciplinary aspect most of all, because I like to do a lot of different things—and it's really nice that in environmental design, I can bring my interests outside of class into my work. My projects have this theme of connecting people in urban environments to nature.

My other weird niche, I guess, is bees.

ÌýÌýWhoa, bees? Like, the insects?
Everyone knows me as the bee girl. I do a lot of pollinator advocacy stuff outside of school and with the city of Boulder, and pollinator gardening, stuff like that.

ÌýÌýOK, but how’d you get that nickname?
I was studying abroad, in Copenhagen, last spring, and I was in a class called Sustainable by Design. We had to go on a field trip to this urban bee place. I guess I just looked really excited or something, because everyone at my table turned and looked at me. So, I became the bee girl in that class. I didn't even have to say anything.

ÌýÌýOther than saving the bees, what else have you done at С»ÆÊé?
I’m the secretary and treasurer of IDSA. The board really cares about networking, of course, but the core of it is this group of students who just want to make things and have fun. That’s the part that keeps it running.

ÌýÌýWhat’s a highlight from your time as a member?
Definitely the first designathon we hosted. We collaborated with Lasko, so our challenge was to design an air purifier that fits better into a home with limited space. We were split up into teams; I think we were called Pretty Princess Power, or something.

ÌýÌýGreat name. Did you end up winning?
There was no official winner, but we made something really awesome—like, a portfolio-worthy project—in 24 hours. I was really proud of us, it just felt good to be on a team that really collaborated and functioned well. We all had different skills, but we all worked together so well.

ÌýÌýTime for the scary question: What’s next?
This summer, I'm working in environmental education in California at a nature-based summer camp, so I'll be teaching kids about nature—and I get paid to go camping, essentially. It's just going to be a nice break, I think, from coming out of intense academics.

Iris Serrano is studying strategic communication and journalism at CMDI. She covers student news and events for the college.