Design Innovation

students using virtual reality equipment

Design Innovation at �鶹��

Design Innovation (DI) at �鶹�� 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

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

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 Iniative that ran through July 11th. The program embodies DI's core mission of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting design, innovation and technology while serving as an incubator for cross-university projects.

12 Sep, 2025

Photo of student presenting to a group of people.

Threads of Innovation: Anna Leitson Weaves Sewing into Education at FAB Play

As part of Hawken School’s annual FAB Play Maker Educators Institute, Integrated Mathematics major and future math teacher, Anna Leitson, led a hands-on workshop titled Integrating Sewing Arts into the Classroom.

07 Jul, 2025

Design Innovation Fellow Hadi Rahmati points to large monitor and explains autonomous car feedback

Making Driverless Cars Nicer by Design

As part of the John and Fonda Elliot Design Innovation Faculty Fellowship, VCD professor Hadi Rahmati partnered with Computer Science assistant professor Raiful Hasan to improve how self-driving cars communicate with pedestrians.

26 Aug, 2025

Core Strategies

Become a Fearless Collaborator

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

Fall 2025 Events

Fix-It Kent

September 18, 2025

Got something broken? Don’t toss it—fix it! Join DI for Fix-It Kent, a hands-on repair workshop where experienced coaches will help you repair your everyday objects, saving you money and keeping waste out of landfills.

Student showcasing wearable technology on a mannequin

Soft Circuits & Smart Textiles Workshop + Lecture

October 2, 9 & 10, 2025

Curious about combining wearable textiles and technology? Join our Soft Circuits & Smart Textiles Workshop + Lecture designed for all skill levels, from curious beginners to creative makers. During this hands-on experience you will learn the foundations of E-textiles, learn through making, and experiment with innovative materials. The workshop will end with a challenge to design and build your own wearable to take home. No prior experience is required.

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Design for Extremes

October 24 & 25

Design for Extremes is a two-day experiential workshop designed to take participants through the process of breaking down a complex problem, turning an idea into an actionable solution, and making a business model for it. This year's event theme is "Prototyping for Better Futures."

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Design Innovation at �鶹��