Our Stories
Design and innovation—that’s our thing. But we don't do it alone. From curious students to bold faculty partners, we collaborate with thinkers and doers from every corner of campus to turn big ideas into real-world impact. This space is where we share stories of creativity, collaboration, and the unexpected moments that design brings to life. Dive in and explore how innovation unfolds in classrooms, across disciplines, and out in the world; one experiment at a time.
Featured Stories
Anntoinette Barbour Reimagining How She Works
Anntoinette from the Quantum Startup Foundry participated in the Teaching and Learning Studio (TLS) in summer 2024.
From Peer Innovation Coach to Game Creator
What starts in The Loft doesn’t stay there! Xinyi Zhang turned a heartfelt chat into Sea My Culture—a vibrant board game celebrating global cultures.
500 friends but no one to play with
In a digital age, how do we truly connect with ourselves and others in intentional ways? IDEA360: 500 friends but no one to play with is a course that explores this question and more.
Stories of collaboration and experimentation
Navigating Change with Design
Recently I had the honor of participating in a panel during the 3rd annual TerrapinSTRONG symposium here at the University of Maryland. The topic of this year’s symposium was Navigating Change: Turning Disruption into Direction, and the panel I participated in was titled Building Capacity: Supporting Ourselves & Others through Change. While preparing for that panel, I realized I have a lot to share about this topic — more than we had time to discuss during the symposium!
Noticing as an Act of Possibility
Over the course of this year, we’ve highlighted a few stories centered around the work of Christina Hnatov, the Academy’s Curriculum and Experience Designer.
From Peer Innovation Coach to Game Creator
At The Academy, we love seeing students take their learning beyond The Loft and into the real world. That’s exactly what Xinyi Zhang did when she transformed a personal conversation into an impactful, multicultural board game called Sea My Culture.
IDEA360: 500 friends but no one to play with
In a digital age where interactions often feel fleeting, how do we truly connect with ourselves and others in more intentional ways? IDEA360: 500 Friends but No One to Play With is a new course we’re offering this spring, that explores this question and more. It’s designed to help students reimagine their relationships by exploring how play and experimentation can transform the way we engage with the world.
A Journey Through Design
This past January, Christina Hnatov, Academy Experience and Curriculum Designer, and TLS Alum and friend of the Academy, Gerald Suarez, embarked on a two-week experiential learning adventure through Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Their mission?