IGNITE announces first Design Thinking Social Project

Press release from IGNITE, UF Engineering Innovation Institute

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – IGNITE, a student-inspired and student-led organization based out of the Engineering Innovation Institute at the University of Florida, is thrilled to announce its first ever Design Thinking Social Project, where students will harness the power of design thinking to improve the recycling of glass and plastic waste within our Gainesville community.

The IGNITE Creativity Program seeks to inspire innovative and artistic solutions to engineering challenges by fostering collaboration among students from various fields, including engineering, art, and business. By promoting teamwork and innovation across disciplines, IGNITE hopes to cultivate an innovative ecosystem across campus and inspire forward-thinking solutions.

This social project addresses long-standing issues with waste disposal at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park, leveraging design thinking methodologies to explore creative solutions. Guided by experienced members of Gainesville’s innovation community, such as Dr. Melissa White, who is a former executive board member of startGNV and current professor within the Engineering Innovation Institute, students will embark on a journey to reimagine recycling practices and tackle ongoing challenges at the park.

Local artist Jenn Garrett, a Gainesville-based international artist known for her impactful public sculptures in Gainesville such as the “Bounce” sculpture for the Alachua County Sports Complex at Celebration Pointe, will also lend her expertise to the project. With Jenn’s guidance, students will explore creative ways to repurpose waste materials into meaningful works of art, enriching our community in the process.

The IGNITE Creativity Program, which started in September of 2023, has an end goal of inspiring “creative collision” on the University of Florida campus by promoting collaboration between different disciplines such as art students and engineers. Already this year, the IGNITE Program has hosted a monthly series including five creativity workshops promoting artistic thinking within the College of Engineering, featuring artists from different disciplines, including theatre, painting, comics, dance, and music, in hopes of cultivating a new generation of well-rounded and creative students.

In addition to the IGNITE Creativity Program, IGNITE provides students access to out-of-the-classroom experiential opportunities through seven other programs, such as a weekly seminar series, a student-led startup incubator, and a student and industry engagement program, among others. These programs, like the Creativity program, are geared towards inspiring a new generation of innovative and entrepreneurial-minded engineers, empowering them to explore their ideas and make meaningful contributions to the academic and professional communities.

  • “such as the “Bounce” sculpture for the Alachua County Sports Complex at Celebration Pointe”
    LOL
    Before you brag about this, go to the Alachua County Clerk of the Court, look at the court records for case 01 2023 CA 004161, and read the 3/6/2024 Amended Complaint on the docket. Hint: look for the word “fraud” on page 16.
    Then see if you want to brag about Celebration Pointe.

    • What does the fraud at Celebration Pointe have to do with an amazing local artist having her work on display or her lending her expertise for the Ignite Program? Way to attack the wrong person.

  • >