Open Study & Office Hours: Design Tools for Projects

Bring your project questions and explore the hardware and software available to support your work—from digital design and media tools to hands-on equipment and creative resources. Staff can help you navigate possibilities available through spaces such as the Vitale Media Lab and the Educational Commons and help you think through which tools might be a good fit for your project.

The WIC will also provide a supportive space to work on your project, ask questions, explore new tools, and connect with resources that can help you move your ideas forward.

Drop in for as much or as little of the session as you'd like. Light snacks will be provided!

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, students will be able to:

• Identify hardware, software, and digital tools that can support different types of academic, creative, and project-based work.
• Explore design and media tools available through campus resources, including the Vitale Media Lab and Educational Commons.
• Match project goals and needs with appropriate tools, technologies, and available resources.
• Evaluate different hardware and software options based on factors such as project requirements, experience level, accessibility, and desired outcomes.
• Explore strategies for learning and using unfamiliar design tools, including where to find guidance, tutorials, and support.
• Develop a plan for incorporating design, media, or maker tools into an academic or personal project.
• Identify campus spaces, equipment, and people who can provide additional support as their projects develop.
• Build confidence in experimenting with new tools and technologies to communicate ideas, solve problems, and create project deliverables.