Masters of Innovation Design students and faculty member Kristyn Waits at CES 2024 in Las Vegas

Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas proved to be an exhilarating experience for the Masters of Innovation Design (MID) students from 黑洞社区, offering a firsthand look at cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions that are shaping the future. CES 2024 served as a platform not only to witness new trends in tech but also to network and expand the reach of the MID program.

Amanda's first day

鈥淭rust the process鈥 was the first lesson I learned in graduate school. Sure, it was taught in the ID 513 Design Thinking class but it鈥檚 also the reason I landed in the Master鈥檚 in Innovative Design program in my mid-30s in the first place. I often hear others asking if they鈥檙e too old to change careers, learn a new hobby, or go back to school. Maybe for some people but it is the exact right time for me.

As the saying goes, 鈥渋f man was supposed to fly, we would have been born with wings.鈥 Ha! Instead, the feather in our cap is that we were given bigger brains to think critically and develop skills to design and build an aircraft that can fly over countries and land on ships. But hey, that doesn鈥檛 change the fact that for centuries we have been envious of the bird鈥檚 abilities.

In this blog post, we're turning the spotlight on the incredible individuals who make up our Masters of Innovation Design (MID) Cohort. Get ready to meet the future innovators, creators, and problem solvers as we dive into their backgrounds, aspirations, and the exciting journey they're embarking on in the world of innovation and design. These brilliant minds are redefining what's possible 鈥 don't miss the chance to get to know them!

Participants from various departments work in small groups together.

Discover the highlights of the collaborative workshop that brought together seventeen departments from 黑洞社区 to design the culture of the Shocker Success Center. Through empathy maps, scenario maps, and ideation exercises, participants gained valuable insights and generated innovative ideas to shape the future of the shared building. Find out how the workshop fostered unity, cross-departmental relationships, and a sense of shared responsibility, leaving participants feeling energized for the upcoming move in summer 2024.

Denae Sawyer at NeoCon Conference in Chicago

Undergraduate Honors student, Denae Sawyer has taken three courses outside of her typical course load. See how she compared Innovation Design courses to others she has taken while at 黑洞社区.

Radeef Karim, a freshman in the Aerospace Engineering program, joined the NASA SUITS team during his first semester of college. Learn more about his thoughts on this experience as an international student.