This paper illustrates three academic units collaborative process to solve a design problem in the development of new wood products for the Historic Boone Tavern Hotel, Berea, Kentucky. The Boone Tavern Hotel chronology and renovation needs after 99 years are summarized. The Berea College Student Crafts Program is then described and the need for a new business model for designing innovative products is illustrated. The learning objectives within the academic program of the Technology and Industrial Arts Department's TEC 140 Class which became the "academic test case" for the collaborative experiment are described. Finally an innovative model for reviewing and executing rapid prototyping within the wood products class for possible adoption by the Boone Tavern Hotel and manufactured by the Student Craft Program is revealed.