DESIGN TEAMS
What are design teams?
It all starts with a problem. At the McMillon Innovation Studio, we connect students from across the university to real-world problems, organizations, and mentors to help deliver valuable project-based learning, training in innovation methodologies, and connections to last a lifetime.
Design Teams Process
EMPATHIZE
DEFINE
IDEATE
PROTOTYPE
TEST
SEE OUR PREVIOUS DEMO DAYS
impact tracks
The impact you leave in our world today can begin here at the McMillon Innovation Studio.
ORGANIZATIONAL
Are you interested in gaining real-world experience while working on pressing industry problems?
Meet Kris
Kris Anderson, supply-chain major, worked with Johnson & Johnson to determine an application based supply chain solution to delivering shipments on time in full.
“The Biggest thing I have learned in the studio has been how important teamwork really is. The Studio did an amazing job analyzing each member’s skills and talents and paired us with teammates who were going to bring out the best in each other! Knowing this made me a better leader and a better team player.
For the first time in a really long time, I had people who actually believed in me. That alone made me want to do better in my personal life, my education, and my work life. The Studio has made me into a better person.“
SOCIAL
Are you interested in gaining real-world experience while creating social impact?
Meet Raquel
Raquel Thompson, marketing major, worked to address how we might help underrepresented communities feel valued, visible, and engaged in the NWA community. Her final prototype was both a DEI consulting agency, as well as a pop-up story share event in connection with a local arts forum.
“I learned that innovation is a process and creativity enhances the process. I love how the Studio never squandered any ideas my team came up with. Instead of asking “Why?”, they asked “How?” and helped us in creating a plausible means to make our idea a reality. A lot of times when we feel like our ideas are too extreme or unachievable, it’s because we’re not sure how we can accomplish them. The Studio taught me the skills to make any goal or dream I have come true through the processes of design thinking, like ideation and customer discovery.”
ENTREPRENEURIAL
Are you interested in gaining real-world experience for your own entrepreneurial endeavors?
Meet Canon
Canon Reeves, computer science major, worked on a variety of projects in the Studio as well as taking on the leadership role of Create Director within the space. He later founded his own company, MORE Technologies.
“The Studio allowed me to interact with other disciplines and showed me that how you build something is only one half of the story, what you’re building and why you’re building it matters just as much. Working at the Studio is what gave me the confidence to try entrepreneurship.“