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
AIE’s 10(+1) Years Unconventional Convention
During October 2024, the Academy held our “10(+1) Unconventional Convention,” gathering AIE alumni, students, staff, and faculty for a mix of workshops and networking fun! From waffles and brainstorming with Innovation Fellows to an improvisational movement workshop (and more!), we celebrated years ...View Article Details for AIE’s 10(+1) Years Unconventional Convention TLS Alumni Spotlight: Denis Garcia Reyes & Michelle Udeli
Denis Garcia Reyes and Michelle Udeli share how the Transformative Learning Seminar (TLS) reshaped their approach to design, education, and leadership. From reimagining student mindsets to reinventing capstone projects, both educators now center unspoken needs and real-time reflection in their work....View Article Details for TLS Alumni Spotlight: Denis Garcia Reyes & Michelle Udeli 
TLS Alumni Spotlight: Anntoinette Barbour
Anntoinette from the Quantam Startup Foundry participated in the Teaching and Learning Studio at the Stanford d.school (TLS) in summer 2024. The Academy collaborates with design educators at the Stanford d.school to produce TLS. Here's what she had to say about her experience:How has the TLS experie...View Article Details for TLS Alumni Spotlight: Anntoinette Barbour 
Innovation Studio 2024
The Innovation Studio @ NOI+F is an ongoing partnership between the National Orchestral Institute and Festival and the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. This initiative began back in 2017 to work with the concept of “reimagining the future of the orchestra.” Each year of the program is in...View Article Details for Innovation Studio 2024 Xperience x AIE
How might improv, talking to strangers, and framing problems from the point of view of a squirrel prepare students to tackle Grand Challenges? This semester, Academy team members Christina Hnatov and Erica Estrada-Liou have been working with Gerald Suárez, Martha Wang and the Xperience Program to te...View Article Details for Xperience x AIE