Bridging Spaces for Learning: Ben Shapiro’s TEDx Talk
DFA Vanderbilt’s co-founder Ben Shapiro gives a TEDx Talk at Furman University. With the theme of Redesigning Education,this conference describes itself as, “Redesigning Education is no small task. Since the ways that we share ideas, process information and create knowledge are changing every day, the places and spaces where we teach and learn must change, too. Let’s rethink how we think about thinking. Let’s relearn how we learn about learning. Let’s redesign our schools, our classrooms, our lectures and our diplomas to prepare learners for success in this age of constant change.”
Vote on Autism Sensory Wall for Dell Challenge!
Exciting News! The Autism Sensory Wall by DFA Oregon’s team is a semi-finalist for the Dell Social Innovation Challenge, and they need your votes!
CLICK HERE to register and vote!
This project revolves around the difficulties of interaction for non-verbal children with autism. It has specifically focused in on how they can engage in an immersive, multi-sensory experience through light, touch, and sound, to play and interact with each other.
Tinker Turf Encouraging Children to Learn and Play
Tinker Turf, a DFA Northwestern summer studio project from 2011, has been implemented by the Chicago Children’s Museum! Read more about the project and the team’s design process!
How did you guys get started with the project?
Our team was brought together through the 2011 DFA Summer Studio to partner and work with the Chicago Children’s Museum on their prospective “Tinkering” exhibit. We worked with our partner to define “tinkering,” explore existing successful spaces, and generate ideas for the future exhibit.
“Design it Together” DFA at IDSA
Every year, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) brings together some of the most prominent figures in design to discuss new ideas and strategies for innovation. DFA faculty founder Dr. Liz Gerber had the opportunity to speak at the IDSA Midwest Conference on April 13th in Chicago alongside a variety of major members of the design community, such as Walter Herbst (founder of Herbst LaZar Bell, Inc.), Zach Kaplan (founder and CEO of Inventables), Larry Keeley (president and co-founder of Doblin Inc.) and Jim Wicks (Vice President of Experience Design at Motorola).
DFA SwipeSense Pitches for $1Million
On a spot-lit stage Wednesday April 4th, 2012 in downtown Chicago, DFA’s SwipeSense team, Mert Iseri and Yuri Malina stood before more than 250 venture capitalists and angel investors to pitch their idea — a portable, BlackBerry-size hand-sanitation device that attaches to the belt of health care providers. The goal: To raise $1 million for their nascent company, SwipeSense, to fund five pilot programs at some of Chicago’s largest medical centers.
DFA National Tour!
DFA’s director of operations, Sami Nerenberg is just finishing up a whirl wind tour across the United States visiting college campuses eager to start a DFA studio. With UC Berkeley being her last stop, let’s check out what she’s been up to.
DFA Project Pipeline!
Well, we just had a whirlwind tour visiting all 8 of our DFA studios! From UCLA to Dartmouth, students are plugging away at tackling the most complex challenges of our time. So what have the teams been up to? 170 students from campuses throughout the country have been hard at work establishing local partnerships and understanding community needs. They’ve started out with broad themes such as health or homelessness and been doing deep dives to understand where design can make an impact.
Design for America @ Chicago Ideas Week
A couple of weeks ago, Design for America was pleased and proud to be a part of Chicago Ideas Week 2011 in more ways than one!
For those who aren’t familiar, Chicago Ideas Week was the brainchild of Brad Keywell, co-founder of Groupon and Lightbank, who spoke to Melissa Harris of the Chicago Tribune about Chicago and its Midwestern humbleness:
Venture capitalist Brad Keywell once told me Chicago needs to be more “noisy.” If that’s the case, Chicago Ideas Week, making its debut Monday, is his big brass band, a way to trumpet big-name speakers and innovative local companies.
The Third Coast has a thriving, vibrant innovation/design/creativity scene, so it is no surprise that Design for America got its start in the Windy City. Go Chicago!
There were a few stand out moments at Chicago Ideas Week 2011 for DFA:
