Stories

Institutions of higher education are looking for new approaches to retain students, ensure timely progression and graduation, and maximize learning. University culture, structure, and incentives can often paralyze institutions, making it challenging to focus the work of faculty and administrators in a meaningful and timely way. Research conducted at Boise State University shows that design thinking has the potential to increase the creative capacity of university staff at all levels to rapidly improve the student experience.

In May, Julie Schell joined the College of Fine Arts as the new Executive Director of Executive and Extended Education in the School of Design and Creative Technologies, where she has served as a Clinical Assistant Professor since 2017. In her new role, Schell will use her expertise with designing and scaling successful start-ups in universities to launch extended education programs minted at the College of Fine Arts and the School of Design and Creative Technologies. 

Clay Damron is a Senior Arts and Entertainment Technologies Major in the School of Design and Creative Technologies at the University of Texas at Austin. 

A team from FÖDA Studio that includes a Department of Design lecturer and an alumnus was recently named as a finalist for two James Beard Awards for restaurant design.

A team of students in the 2D capstone class of the Game and Mobile Media Applications (GAMMA) Program reached the finals last week at the Intel University Games Showcase at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California.

Wicked problems are everywhere. The number of prepared and available solvers to work on these kinds of problems, however, is sparse. Scaling design thinking outside of the design studio offers a way to relieve this tension. Humans can use design thinking to change the world, but only if the current "rapid teach" models of design thinking pedagogy are reimagined.

Katrina Gwen Dalmacio, who goes by Gwen, is a senior in Arts and Entertainment Technologies in the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Read more Q&As with AET seniors.

Ryan Martin is a senior in Arts and Entertainment Technologies in the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Read more Q&As with AET seniors.

Matt Smith, a projection and lighting designer and a lecturer in the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies discusses the current courses he's teaching and valuable advice for students interested in a creative technology career path.

Gabrielle Ransom is a senior in Arts and Entertainment in the School of Design and Creative Technologies. Read more Q&As with AET seniors.