The actual “brainchild” of Kent State University Professor Emeritus Brinsley Tyrrell, the Behind the Brain Plaza, was completed and dedicated in 2000. It is located behind Merrill Hall in the Beck Family Memorial Gardens on the Kent Campus.  Tyrrell was the winner of a design contest by the Ohio Arts Council with the idea of creating art to occupy this space. The plaza was funded through the Ohio Arts Council by Ohio's Percent for Art legislation. Works of art commissioned by Kent State related to the Percent for Art program, which were installed at various campus locations throughou...

The Kent State University School of Fashion has a strong legacy of participation in the prestigious Supima Design Competition, which highlights some of the most promising emerging designers in the U.S.The 2025 Supima Design Competition took place on November 5, 2025. The competition features collections from five finalists, each representing a leading U.S. fashion school. These top fashion schools selected one exceptional graduate to represent their institution. The finalists are tasked with creating a womenswear capsule collection using premium SUPIMA cotton fabrics, culminating in a presenta...