Goal 2

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Stake FIT’s claim as an innovation leader and industry collaborator within the areas of art, design, science, and business.

Strategy

FIT will encourage and support cutting-edge faculty and student research that positions FIT as a thought leader while also enhancing integrated research and teaching opportunities throughout our schools, programs, and departments. Leverage FIT’s focus on real-world applications to pursue commercialization and industry recognition for advancements in research in the creative industries.

Context

As part of the strategic plan’s emphasis on innovation, the Center for Innovation at FIT and the DTech Lab have the potential to provide opportunities for unconventional research that challenges faculty, students, and alumni to redefine the nexus of material science and design, such that research in art, design, science, and business is redefined and new consumer behaviors can be satisfied within industry parameters and product development.

Initiatives

A) Quick Wins (6–12 months)

  • Execute a process to pursue short- and long-term faculty-led research projects that include students under the auspices of the Center for Innovation at FIT and the DTech Lab. (This will be a pilot program.)
  • Enhance the overall demonstration of FIT’s successes by showcasing FIT’s innovation through special events, exhibitions, and lectures. Showcase the work of faculty and student collaborative research.
  • Raise awareness of FIT as an institution that focuses on innovation through multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary research.

B) Innovation Imperatives (1–3 years)

  • Create a department for transdisciplinary learning for faculty and students who want to focus on innovation. The department will support a learning environment that crosses disciplines while creating synergies across schools, programs, and departments.
  • Develop credit-bearing courses for students working with faculty on innovation-related research projects.

C) Blue Sky (3–5 years)

  • Seek recognition by external sources such as SUNY so that “Applied Arts” and “Business” research conducted at FIT will be considered institutional strengths

Think Tank Members

Co-Chairs

James Pearce, Emerging Technologies Manager, Information Technology
C. J. Yeh, Professor, Illustration and Interactive Media

Members

Preeti Arya, Assistant Professor, Textile Development and Marketing
Keith Ellenbogen, Associate Professor, Photography
Ruth Jeyaveeran, Assistant Professor, Textile/Surface Design
Andy Liu, Assistant Professor, Fashion Design—Art
Amy Sperber, Assistant Professor, Fashion Design—Art Thomas
McManus, Assistant Professor, Communication Design Pathways