In continuing our work with rather than for students, we’re sharing some amazing opportunities available this Summer 2022 at the Innovation Hub! We look forward to connecting with students, exploring new possibilities, and inspiring innovation in the community. The deadline…
What’s Your Why: A Curiosity for Human-Centered Design
This blog post is the second installment of What’s Your Why, a new blog series aimed at highlighting the importance of connecting back to the “why” that drives you and the work you are involved in. Each post is a…
What’s Your Why: A Commitment for Change
This blog post is the first installment of What’s Your Why, a new blog series aimed at highlighting the importance of connecting back to the “why” that drives you and the work you are involved in. Each post is a written reflection from our team members, who took the time to graciously share their passions and purposes that drove them to their particular work at the Innovation Hub. We hope these stories inspire you to take a moment to reflect on your own individual “why”.
Join Us At ‘Working at the Innovation Hub’
Are you curious about what we do at the Innovation Hub? Are you thinking of applying to any of our roles for the Summer 2022 Work Study term, or know of someone who might be interested? On April 13th from…
Why Mindset Matters
Written By: Betelehem Gulilat, Content Writer Contributors: Shankeri Vijayakumar (UTQAP Research Coordinator), Lidiia Tulenkova and Maliha Sarwar (Design Researchers) Have you ever felt something is holding you back from success? At one point or another we all have stumbled into…
Community Repost: Supporting Student Caregivers at University of Toronto’s Libraries
By Yusur Al-Salman, Redefining Traditional Project Lead
Between the rising costs of childcare and the COVID-19 pandemic, entering parenthood as students seems more challenging than ever. And yet, there is growing effort to accommodate the practical needs of student-parents and to address them meaningfully, and one example is in making university libraries family-friendly.
How Iteration Connected Me to My Superpowers
Written by Kaitlyn Corlett, Senior Project Assistant
When we think about superpowers our minds usually go to magical abilities or the supernatural. However, I believe that we all have superpowers and they’re our unique strengths we bring to this world. We might not know what they are at first, and it takes moments like navigating failure, overcoming obstacles, or facing uncertainty to begin learning what they might be. This requires learning from these experiences to gain a deeper sense of self, and a process that supports embracing uncertainty.
Researchers Reflect: The Impact of Small Interactions
This blog post is part of Researchers Reflect, a series where we embark on the journey of a design researcher at the Innovation Hub. Each post will spotlight a different design researcher’s experience, stories, and learning moments throughout the course of their research.
Written by Sabrina Wu, Senior Research Assistant
In the past, I often associated research with substantial findings and grand theories. But the key to needs-finding and design thinking research can actually lie in what is ordinary and familiar – small daily interactions. My work at the Innovation Hub allowed me to closely experience and hear the impact small interactions have on students and researchers.
Celebrating Black History, Excellence, and Community
At the Innovation Hub, our mission is to design an equitable campus experience for students to flourish in and recognize at the core of our work are the diverse voices of students and communities across U of T.
The Quiet Power of Silence
Betelehem Gulilat 
Nikhil Parwar
Written by Betelehem Gulilat, Content Writer
Illustrated by Nikhil Parwar, Digital Storyteller
Why do we as humans feel uncomfortable being in a space of silence? Whether it’s in the middle of a conversation, a work meeting, a stroll outdoors, or staying indoors in solitude, most of us feel unsettled by the absence of sound in almost every aspect of our lives. When silence is used with the right intentions, it can bring a world of meaning to our lives. It leaves us no other choice but to express empathy towards ourselves and others around us.