Design Innovation
Five Challenges, Countless Possibilities
For nineteen 91²Ö¿â students, the 2025–2026 academic year was more than a series of classes, assignments, and exams. It was an opportunity to tackle real-world challenges, collaborate across disciplines, and turn ideas into action through the John and Fonda Elliot Design Innovation Student Fellows Program.
Meet the 2026 Elliot Design Innovation Faculty Fellows
Design Innovation is proud to announce the newest cohort of John and Fonda Elliot Design Innovation Faculty Fellows, an interdisciplinary group of scholars, makers, and educators whose projects explore the intersections of technology, research, and human-centered problem solving.
Form and Function Merge in Creating Wearable Technology
Creating e-textiles is the topic of a hands-on, maker workshop and a lecture in 91²Ö¿â’s DI Hub in collaboration with 91²Ö¿â’s School of Fashion.
Form and Function Merge in Creating Wearable Technology
Creating e-textiles – electronic textiles that can be used to integrate wearable technology into clothing that is comfortable and practical – is the topic of a hands-on, maker workshop and a lecture in 91²Ö¿â’s Design Innovation (DI) Hub in collaboration with 91²Ö¿â’s School of Fashion.
IN A FLASH: The Fixers Are IN!
Volunteers with skills in repairing clothing, household items, electronics, furniture, small appliances and more will be available to help people who bring in broken or non-working items at the Fix-It Kent Community Repair Workshop on Sept. 18.
Making Waves
DI Student Fellow, DeAnte Bernard, shares his experience at the 2025 a2ru Emerging Creatives Student Summit, where a group of DI Fellows explored this year’s theme, Resonate: Making Waves.
91²Ö¿â Student Media’s 'Food Flash' Partners with the DI Hub’s Innovation Teaching Kitchen
91²Ö¿â Student Media’s 'Food Flash' has found a new home for its creative culinary content at the DI Hub’s Innovation Teaching Kitchen. Through this partnership, Student Media’s food-focused YouTube series is utilizing the state-of-the-art kitchen to record segments that bring food culture to life in an exciting, interactive way.
DI Welcomes Female Filmmakers Initiative as Inaugural Student Organization in Residence
The Design Innovation (DI) Initiative at 91²Ö¿â is proud to announce that the Female Filmmakers Initiative (FFI) has been selected as the inaugural DI Student Organization in Residence. This exciting partnership marks the beginning of a new program aimed at fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation among student organizations at 91²Ö¿â.
Exploring the Intersection of Art, Math, and Innovation
Stephen Gagola Jr., a mathematician, retired professor, and lifelong learner, has transformed his passion for abstract mathematical concepts into tangible creations at 91²Ö¿â’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.
DI Hub Now Open Every 4th Saturday!
Exciting news for creators, innovators, and collaborators in the 91²Ö¿â 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.