Design Innovation News Center

J.R. Campbell, executive director of the Design Innovation Initiative at Kent State University, discusses how working together can lead to amazing new ideas on the "iNNOVATION Insights" podcast and website. Campbell, who is an expert in combining technology with design, believes that when people from different backgrounds and skills come together, they can create incredible things.

Stephen Gagola Jr., a mathematician, retired professor, and lifelong learner, has transformed his passion for abstract mathematical concepts into tangible creations at Kent State University’s Design Innovation (DI) Hub. His innovative project, rooted in Latin cubes, demonstrates how the DI Hub empowers members to turn intellectual ideas into physical realities.

Exciting news for creators, innovators, and collaborators in the Kent State community! The Design Innovation (DI) Hub and Reactor makerspace are now open on the 4th Saturday of every month, from 10 AM to 5 PM, providing you with even more opportunities to bring your ideas to life.
Board games, card games and computer games are all fair game at the second annual Let’s Make the Rules: A Game Creation Experience, a design challenge open to Kent State University students who have an idea for a new game.

Meet Joe Sepesy, a retired educator, Vietnam veteran, and now an inventive game designer, whose journey at the Kent State University Design Innovation (DI) Hub exemplifies the transformative power of community, creativity, and cutting-edge resources.

Meet Lilly Kensicki, a mechatronics engineering technology major from Parma, Ohio. Think of the phrase “well-rounded student,” and you should think of Kensicki.

Growing up, students Rebecca Haywood and Riley Schaefer saw little to no representation of neurodivergent characters in children’s media. When the two took the augmented reality in children’s literature course offered through their program and Design Innovation last year, they wanted to change that for others. So, they created an interactive story where readers immerse themselves in the playground fun of two neurodivergent characters.

Throughout the semester, DI student fellows collaborated on workshops at the intersection of creativity and cutting edge technology.

According to the “State of AI in Education” report (Quizlet, 2023), 62 percent of teachers and students in the United States have used artificial intelligence (AI). At Kent State University, Associate Professor David Foster has been immersing himself in research related to AI, seeking ways to empower students to integrate AI into various aspects of life.

Design Innovation is about sharing, stitching together extracurricular, cross-disciplinary and collaborative design innovation projects and experiences and sharing them with the Kent State University community. On March 11, the stitching was literal.