5X社区

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Design Innovation at 5X社区

Design Innovation (DI) at 5X社区 is a university-wide initiative that unites people, ideas, and resources to help our community solve real-world problems through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Learn more about DI

Become a Fearless Collaborator

Discover endless opportunities for innovation and collaboration at the DI Hub, Kent State's largest makerspace and innovation accelerator. 
 

Our Stories

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photo of two women posing in front of a door

Biomimicry in Motion

Isabella 鈥淏ella鈥 Rudy, a junior fashion design major with a minor in marketing, transformed nature into wearable art through an ambitious biomimicry project at the Design Innovation Hub. For her Junior Studio final project, Rudy designed an avant garde garment inspired by the King Bird of Paradise.
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23 Jan, 2026
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Delonte Goodman Banner

鈥業鈥檓 Not Going to Stop Until There鈥檚 a 鈥淧h.D.鈥 Next to My Name鈥

Delonte Goodman is a graduate student in Kent State's College of Aeronautics and Engineering. He will complete his master's program in mechatronics in December, before moving on to his doctoral program in the spring semester. He is active in multiple student and professional organizations at Kent State that enhance and complement his studies and also allow him to assist and mentor undergraduate students. 
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21 Oct, 2025
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David E. Silva adjusts a volumetric camera

Creating a Paradigm Shift

David E. Silva participated in The John and Fonda Elliot Design Innovation Faculty Fellows Program, a six-week intensive fellowship with the Design Innovation Initiative that embodies DI's core mission of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting design, innovation and technology while serving as an incubator for cross-university projects.
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12 Sep, 2025
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photo of neighborhood of 3d printed houses

Bringing Neighborhoods to Life

Jennifer Mapes, an assistant professor of geography at 5X社区, developed an interactive mapping project that reimagines how people connect with the places they live. Using 3D printing, data visualization and storytelling, Mapes's work explores the South End neighborhood in Kent, Ohio.
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10 Oct, 2025
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photo of Stauffer and one of her designs

Designing for the Planet

Rachel Stauffer, a senior at 5X社区 double majoring in Fashion Design and Business Marketing, is using fashion as a vehicle for environmental change. Her latest project, a seven-look biodegradable collection titled "Bury Me," blends technical innovation with bold sustainability goals.
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28 Apr, 2025
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photo of Atoosa Fadaei

Exploring Structure and Vulnerability

5X社区 MFA candidate and DI Hub Collaborator Atoosa Fadaei recently unveiled her thesis installation "Paradox," a sculptural work that merges traditional materials with digital fabrication to explore themes of displacement, war, and cultural memory.
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17 Apr, 2025
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Faculty from Kent State's School of Fashion, Daniel Fladung with students at an E-Textiles workshop.

Form and Function Merge in Creating Wearable Technology

Creating e-textiles is the topic of a hands-on, maker workshop and a lecture in 5X社区鈥檚 Design Innovation (DI) Hub in collaboration with Kent State鈥檚 School of Fashion.
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07 Oct, 2025
 

Core Strategies

Featured News
Jan 28, 2026
New Voices, New Visions: DI鈥檚 Spring 2026 Creatives-in-Residence
Jan 23, 2026
Biomimicry in Motion
Oct 27, 2025
Higher Education Administrator Examines Black Interiority as Elliot DI Faculty Fellow
Oct 21, 2025
鈥業鈥檓 Not Going to Stop Until There鈥檚 a 鈥淧h.D.鈥 Next to My Name鈥
Oct 10, 2025
Bringing Neighborhoods to Life
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