McMillon Innovation Studio

🔔Last day to apply to be on a Design Team!🔔 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gNaKhgRd

FALL 2024 DEMO DAY RECAP🏆 Congratulations to all 18 teams for their incredible hard work and dedication throughout the semester! We are so proud of the innovation and impact showcased by every team. Product Design Teams Winner: Community Clinic Project Manager: Valeria Mazariegos Team members: Marielis Cubero-Perez, Sierra Greiner, Ellis Freel Social Impact Design Team Winner: Crystal Bridges Project Manager: Ellis Freel Team members: Parker Moore, Alyson McWilliams, Isabella Boulware, Menghan Zhang Organizational Design Team Winner: Sam’s Club Project Manager: Kaisei Yamauchi Team Members: Dylan Clark, William Scholl, Ada Monteys, Mya Negley, Hannah Dryden Audience Choice Award: J.B. Hunt Project Manager: Philip Nuñez Team Members: Amna Khan , Brett Harrelson, Diego Ignacio Peredo Yshiy Joshua Yustana, Soumya Kolluru Well done to all participants for their outstanding achievements!

Join us this Wednesday for Demo Day at Adohi Hall! Our talented design and project teams have been working hard all semester to develop their final projects and now it's time to showcase them! 📍 Where: Adohi Hall 🕓 When: December 4th @ 4 PM 🎟️ Open to the public! Register here: [Eventbrite Link] https://lnkd.in/gG-VSSMB

#UARK students passionate about tackling real-world challenges should apply for the spring 2025 Design Teams in the McMillon Innovation Studio! 🛠️🌍 Open to students of all majors, the studio is a hub for future leaders and changemakers looking to develop their creative mindsets and make a meaningful impact. ➡️ Apply now: https://lnkd.in/g446-zCX Design Teams focus on three dynamic impact tracks: organizational, social impact, and entrepreneurial. Whether you're solving pressing industry problems, driving social change, or advancing your own startup ideas, you'll use human-centered design principles to create innovative solutions. 💡📈 Previous teams have improved systems for local food banks, supported psychiatric care, and reimagined autonomous vehicle hubs. #StartSomethingAR #Innovation #SocialImpact

Join us for the McMillon Innovation Studio Demo Day - Fall 2024! On December 4, 2024, at 4:00 PM in Adohi Hall B, the McMillon Innovation Studio Design and Product Teams will present their solutions to problems faced by organizations in our community during the Fall 2024 Demo Day. RSVP now: https://lnkd.in/grTJ-YYn The McMillon Innovation Studio serves as an innovation hub for students across the University of Arkansas campus. Our mission is to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact. Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources, further supporting their creative skills and empowering them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social, and entrepreneurial change. Thank you to our project partners and sponsors: • Walmart • Community Clinic NWA • Dollar General • Sam's Club • J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art • AFIC@MCO • City of Fayetteville, Arkansas • TheatreSquared • Bentonville Moves Coalition • CAPS • Canopy NWA • Nestlé   Thank you to Shelley and Doug McMillon, as well as our other donors, for making our programs possible.

🧩 Cultivating Future Leaders Through an Entrepreneurial Mindset🧩 An entrepreneurial mindset is a skillset that can be used to navigate challenges, recognize opportunities, and eventually turn them into impactful solutions. Here are 3 Key Traits that create an Entrepreneurial Mindset: 1. Solution-Oriented: Fostering curiosity and creativity can allow for an optimistic interpretation of problems. 2. Adaptable: Embracing change and pivoting when necessary. 3. Anti-Fragile: Building resilience and emerging stronger from challenges. https://lnkd.in/eKW_trcX

https://lnkd.in/g-nv7_Nv 💡Building an Innovative Culture Through Human-Centered Design 💡 As our design teams begin their ideation sessions this week, it’s essential to recognize how Human-centered design drives impactful solutions. What is The Human-Centered Design Approach? Human-centered design is a user-focused problem-solving methodology. This approach centers around understanding users’ needs, behaviors, and experiences. How Can This Approach Be Successful? For this approach to be successful, collaboration must be fostered. This guarantees that a comprehensive understanding of the end-user is developed. For collaboration to flourish, a team must establish a clear set of values that serve as a compass when navigating this process. This fosters an inclusive atmosphere where team members feel encouraged to share their ideas. An inclusive culture promotes various perspectives, leading to more curated and thoughtful solutions. How Does Innovation Play a Role in This Approach? Despite being distinct concepts, innovation and human-centric design are interconnected since they are both built on the foundation of human experience. Innovation is promoted by a deep understanding of human needs and experiences. The human-centered design approach fuels innovation by recognizing people’s challenges and meeting their needs. Combining these concepts offers a powerful formula for transformative growth.

See you tomorrow!

Justin Urso's leadership helped the studio make incredible strides. We are sad to see him go but know his next chapter is a fantastic opportunity for him.

Congratulations to Jessica Andrews, who has been named interim director of the studio.