DI at 91²Ö¿â
Design Innovation (DI) at 91²Ö¿â is a university-wide initiative with representation across the eight-campus system. DI at 91²Ö¿â is a dynamic continuum of spaces, events and people dedicated to ideas, innovation and creation through interdisciplinary collaboration. It’s a meeting of bright minds and dynamic people seeking challenges and solving real world problems.
DI at 91²Ö¿â is also fun, engaging students, faculty and staff to team up, interact and brilliantly create in exciting, new ways.
A grass-roots initiative – began 5 years ago with the ‘Group of Eight’:
- Julie Messing
- J.R. Campbell
- Ken Burhanna
- John West
- Bob Walker
- William Willoughby
- Benjamin Tipton
- Stephen Roberts
Pioneers creating a networked ecosystem and glue between disciplines bridging the intelligence gaps the ART and SCIENCE of design and innovation; bringing diverse resources to bear on problems through project-based learning / discovery.
Dedicated to:
- Nurturing creativity
- Critical thinking
- Thinking and doing
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Networking resources
Now the DI TEAM has grown to a group of 22 of 6 colleges and 3 units
- Meets biweekly
- Received a VentureWell grant
- Piloted a course – Smarter than your Smartphone
- Held a retreat with entrepreneur Jeff Hoffman – test concepts and ideas
- Put together a big-idea proposal as part of 91²Ö¿â’s Strategic Planning – Center for Design Innovation
- Put together a startup proposal to give the project legs
- $115K internal commitments from colleges and units
The Design Innovation Initiative leads to:
A Communicating Campus
- Cross-Disciplinary Awareness and Engagement
- Interdisciplinary Research
- A Robust Shared Infrastructure (existing + new assets) that Supports Design Innovation
- Maker Spaces
- Research Labs
- Interdisciplinary Studio Spaces
- Collaboration Labs (Co-Labs)
- Network with Industry Partners
- Network with Regional and Global Stakeholders
- Outcomes Reached for Generations to Come (through graduates)
- Future Innovators
- Future Leaders
Three Approaches Help Us to Build the Design Innovation Initiative:
- Interdisciplinary Course Offerings
- Co-Taught w/ Faculty and Students from Different disciplines
- Taken Individually or Collectively (to earn a certificate or degree distinction)
- Belonging to no College
- Co-Curricular Initiatives
- Socializing Awareness and Engagement Across Disciplines / Sectors
- Engaging with Stakeholders and Industry, such as ?
- Design Challenges
- Traveling Workshops
- Creating (assembling) an Innovation Infrastructure
- Network of Existing and New Shared Resources
- Creating a Hub Facility – The Center for Design Innovation