Innovation Video Series
A series of animated explainer videos makes principles of innovation accessible and engaging to the Illinois Tech campus. The use clear explanations and examples and strong visual images to help promote a common way of talking and thinking about innovation across disciplines.
Problem
Illinois Tech lacked a shared vocabulary and mental model for innovation, which impeded cross-disciplinary collaboration.
My Role
I owned this project and drove creative direction, team leadership, and delivery. I also developed the framework semiology and graphic identity.
Research Plan
Interview eight (8) campus entrepreneurs and ask them describe their experience using the following lenses: desirability, feasibility, and viability.
Work closely with the Office of Digital Learning to understand the technical capabilities and anticipated challenges of doing video production in-house.
Insights
Innovators and entrepreneurs were biased toward the language and mental models of their own disciplines.
The lack of a shared language for innovation across disciplines made collaboration more difficult.
There was a perception that innovation was primarily the domain of the schools of business, design, and engineering.
Social sciences and humanities excelled at understanding the human element, but were often overlooked during the innovation process.
Prototyping
I created partnerships to leverage existing university resources, including Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from our faculty and staff.
Entrepreneurs from Lewis College in Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology were featured to emphasize that innovation is inherently cross-disciplinary and permeates the entire university.
I created episode concepts and wrote scripts for the video series. Together with a professional animator, I storyboarded and refined the scripts prior to production.
Testing
Prototypes and rough cuts of episodes were critiqued by students, faculty, and staff throughout production. The just-in-time production model allowed feedback to be used continuously during filming.
Results
We produced quality animated video content rapidly using existing resources and a small animation budget. Please enjoy these first two videos from the series!
Additional value was realized by pioneering a replicable, end-to-end digital workflow during production.
Let's say you've got a simple lemonade stand and you want to take it to the next level–The Whole View framework can help us innovate to better serve the needs of people and create greater value using the resources we already have!
Content Contributors
Introduction Anijo Mathew, Academic Director, Kaplan Institute and Associate Professor, Institute of Design
Example: Lemonade Stand Aaron Cook, Assistant Academic Director, Kaplan Institute
What: The Innovative Offering Nik Rokop, Coleman Foundation Clinical Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship
Who: Human Needs Elizabeth S. Friedman, Adjunct Professor of Anthropology
Why: Viability, Sustainability, and Adaptability Andre Nogueira, PhD candidate, Institute of Design
How: Activity Systems Stephanie Smith, Director of Corporate and Community Partner Engagement, Institute of Design
Case Study: Developmental Media Lab Learning Landscapes
Jennifer Miller, Associate Professor of Psychology
Carly Kocurek, Associate Professor of Digital Humanities and Media Studies
Ron Landis, Deputy Vice Provost for Research and Academic Affairs
Production Team
Kaplan Institute
Anijo Mathew, Academic Director
Aaron Cook, Assistant Academic Director
Scott Jones, Kaplan Scholar
Adam Campbell, Animator
Blue Cuevas, Graphic Designer
Office of Digital Learning
Lauren Woods, Director
Brad Katz, Associate Director, Instructional Design & Technology
Matthew West, Blackboard Admin/Instructional Technologist
Lanique Davis, Multimedia Producer/Editor
John Kazibut, Chief Engineer
Robert Cantu, Media Producer / Production Manager
Richard Ciurej, A/V Systems Engineer
Jacek Dzikowski, Ed Tech Manager