Coming this fall to the Engineering Education and Research Building, the Center for Design Thinking launches for students, faculty and businesses to engage in brain-stimulating courses, hands-on workshops and tutorials.
The center offers courses to prepare students for an entrepreneuring future and a new way for creative thinking with firsthand experiences on inventive projects.
Dean of Engineering Michael Pishko and the Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship are spearheading the new Center along with co-directors and founders Amy Banic, associate professor for the Department of Computer Science, and Brandon Gellis, assistant professor for the Department of Visual and Literary Arts.
“The sky is the limit. We are looking for innovative ideas,” said Gellis.
With jobs becoming scarce in a society filled with hard-working individuals, entrepreneurship and new ideas are more valued characteristics. Employers search for young adults who think outside of the box and are willing to bring broad and unheard ideas to the table to create a better and unique company.
The center was created to bring great minds together from all backgrounds. From those involved with the arts to people whose preferences lie within engineering; from students to staff. People with an urge to learn and challenge themselves can receive what they’re looking for at the Center for Design Thinking.
Different programs will coordinate with the center to use these new resources such as already existing competitions students prepare for throughout the year. These competitions will encourage students to think critically and find innovative solutions to various problems. Staff will be able to also get involved with these competitions by becoming mentors to the students and guiding them through their innovative ideas.
“Nothing is set in stone at this point. We’re wanting this to be a living document or a living experience so that way we are constantly growing. We’re not locked into one specific objective. It’s intended to grow,” said Gellis.
“We plan to involve the community as well so it’s not just faculty and students here at UW, but we plan to engage and collaborate with community industry leaders in Wyoming, the UW Art Museum, and anyone else who is interested in working with us who are entrepreneurs,” said Banic. “It’s not just for faculty and students in the University, but more of a way to bring all these groups together.”
Not only is the center offering captivating courses to college students, the center is partnering up with the University of Wyoming Art Museum for kids K-12 to get involved in design thinking with family oriented workshops. Getting younger minds interested in this program may intrigue them to pursue more cross-disciplinary affairs in their own schools and in the future for college and careers.
The Center for Design Thinking hopes to attract those looking for a challenge, no matter their background, to get involved with thinking critically and creatively as well as students with a heart in entrepreneuring. Faculty and businesses are also encouraged to make use of the center for research and competitions and work together with students to come up with brand new ideas.
“I’m really invested in this center because I believe in cross-disciplinary cooperation and how important it is to come up with innovative ideas,” said Banic.
Students interested in the program and looking for more information may contact Amy Banic at abanic@uwyo.edu or Brandon Gellis at bgellis@uwyo.edu.
