Student in the DI Hub's Blank_Lab
person working at table
person building a brick wall
students working on a laptop
students using virtual reality equipment

Design Innovation at Kent State University

Design Innovation (DI) at Kent State University is a university-wide initiative that unites people, ideas, and resources to help our community solve real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Learn more about DI

Become a Fearless Collaborator

Discover endless opportunities for innovation and collaboration at the DI Hub, Kent State's largest makerspace and innovation accelerator. 
 

DI Hub Member Portal

Our Stories

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David E. Silva adjusts a volumetric camera

Creating a Paradigm Shift

David E. Silva participated in The John and Fonda Elliot Design Innovation Faculty Fellows Program, a six-week intensive fellowship with the Design Innovation Initiative that embodies DI's core mission of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting design, innovation and technology while serving as an incubator for cross-university projects.
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12 Sep, 2025
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photo of neighborhood of 3d printed houses

Bringing Neighborhoods to Life

Jennifer Mapes, an assistant professor of geography at Kent State University, developed an interactive mapping project that reimagines how people connect with the places they live. Using 3D printing, data visualization and storytelling, Mapes's work explores the South End neighborhood in Kent, Ohio.
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10 Oct, 2025
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Faculty from Kent State's School of Fashion, Daniel Fladung with students at an E-Textiles workshop.

Form and Function Merge in Creating Wearable Technology

Creating e-textiles is the topic of a hands-on, maker workshop and a lecture in Kent State University’s Design Innovation (DI) Hub in collaboration with Kent State’s School of Fashion.
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07 Oct, 2025
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photo of Stauffer and one of her designs

Designing for the Planet

Rachel Stauffer, a senior at Kent State University double majoring in Fashion Design and Business Marketing, is using fashion as a vehicle for environmental change. Her latest project, a seven-look biodegradable collection titled "Bury Me," blends technical innovation with bold sustainability goals.
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28 Apr, 2025
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photo of Atoosa Fadaei

Exploring Structure and Vulnerability

Kent State University MFA candidate and DI Hub Collaborator Atoosa Fadaei recently unveiled her thesis installation "Paradox," a sculptural work that merges traditional materials with digital fabrication to explore themes of displacement, war, and cultural memory.
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17 Apr, 2025
 

The Design Innovation Toolkit

We believe design innovation is both a mindset and an approach for tackling messy problems. DI at Kent State incorporates human-centered design, design thinking, and innovation strategies to help foster creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and fearless collaboration. 

Explore the DI Toolkit

Core Strategies

Featured News
Oct 27, 2025
Higher Education Administrator Examines Black Interiority as Elliot DI Faculty Fellow
Oct 10, 2025
Bringing Neighborhoods to Life
Oct 07, 2025
Form and Function Merge in Creating Wearable Technology
Sep 24, 2025
Meet the Inaugural Design Innovation Creatives‑in‑Residence
Sep 12, 2025
Creating a Paradigm Shift
More news
Featured Events
Nov 03
12:00 am
The Polydisciplinary Lens
Nov 12
06:00 pm
Digitizing Reality
More events

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