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Design Innovation welcomes its 1,000th collaborator, reaching the milestone in just under two years.

The owned by all, shared by all makerspace started as a mission to bring together students, faculty, community and leading experts from diverse disciplines for intersectional problem-solving and collaboration. Whether someone wants to dive into a technology they’ve never used before or has an idea they’ve been tinkering with, Design Innovation and its open-access spaces provide the tools and support to do so.

Tracy Silcox, a sophomore theater production major, became the 1,000th collaborator after completing an orientation and touring the DI Hub with her scenic design class. She said she is excited about the possibilities 3D design and printing will bring to her stage design work.

“When it comes to model making, especially, the materials here can definitely help,” she said. “Especially 3D printing, you can design your concepts.”

Nicholas Cindrich, a DI crew member and student fellow, is most excited to help Silcox and the next 1,000 collaborators take their projects to the next level as they explore the Reactor, the DI Hub's largest makerspace. 

“It's just very exciting to see just people working together,” he said. “The ideas that have flown through this building, that have started here, have been amazing to see.”

As DI expands to now welcome community members as collaborators, Executive Director J.R. Campbell looks forward to growing the network of passionate makers and problem-solvers. 

"It's amazing to see that we have crossed the 1,000th DI collaborator mark!” He said. “After having opened the DI Hub during the pandemic, it is super exciting to finally see the utilization of this great university resource starting to take off!”

As for the next 1,000, Cindrich said he strives to give them the same attention and care DI crew members have always been known to show.

“We don't stop providing services because we've hit a certain number,” he said. “I want to make sure we're helping every single person that comes to this building the best we can.”

Want to join our network of fearless collaborators? Sign up for a today!