OUR STORY
THE INNOVATION HUB LAUNCHED IN 2016
The Innovation Hub was launched in 2016 by the Division of Student Life at U of T to explore two questions using design thinking: Who are our students? and how is the world changing for them? We wondered how the answers to these questions might shape how future programs, services, and resources are designed to better support students.
At our launch event at Chestnut Residence, we brought together over 240 students, staff, and faculty to explore using design thinking in our planning processes. After hearing the Who are our Students presentation, we asked attendees to brainstorm on a question: What do students need to live a successful life? The answers to these questions generated thousands of post-it notes that eventually informed the five domains of innovation that give scope to our work.
THE STORY OF OUR WORK TO DATE
In the years since our beginnings in 2016, our work has continuously evolved to generate student participation, encourage co-creation, and drive change to transform campus experiences. The Innovation Hub is driven by students, for students.
2016-2017
EARLY INNOVATION HUB
From the beginning, we co-created with student including s and the U of T community to build the Innovation Hub. Everything we do, our team structure, our mission, vision, values, processes, and projects is decided in community with our team.
2018-2019
CREATING SCALABLE IMPACT
After a successful 2-year pilot, we expanded our capacity by implementing a consultant model, taking on projects on a cost-recovery basis. We also explored the “Big Ideas” generated in the first few years of the Innovation Hub.
2020-2022
COLLABORATING IN A PANDEMIC
While the pandemic brought many challenges, the Innovation Hub continued to grow. During this period, we really began to understand how student needs change and evolve, and challenges pushed us to consider new perspectives and creative solutions.
2023-PRESENT
MOVING TOWARDS THE FUTURE
Since opening our space at the UTSU Student Commons, we’ve continued to strive to understand student experiences and take on meaningful projects. Building community with and listening to students is resulting in meaningful change on campus.
EARLY INNOVATION HUB (2016-2017)
INSIGHTS & IDEAS
Our work culminated in January 2017 with our team Insights & Ideas unveiling 25 ideas for sustaining and disruptive innovation from our five domains team, bringing together senior leaders from across the University of Toronto.
A SUCCESSFUL 2 YEAR PILOT
After two years at the Innovation Hub, we completed our Pilot Project Review, where we shared our co-created domains of innovation, Innovation Hour monthly events, design research methodologies, and outlined a future vision for the iHub.
HIGHLIGHTS
CREATING SCALABLE IMPACT (2018-2022)
5 BIG IDEAS
The 5 Big Ideas emerged from extensive consultation, ideation, and prototyping from our original Insights & Ideas. Cross-disciplinary teams consulted with the community to explore what would have to be true for this idea to come to life at U of T and actually meet the need it was intended to meet?
MOVING TO A CONSULTING MODEL
We moved to a consulting model by partnering with U of T divisions to deeply understand experiences within their communities. We constructed formal project plans, and build project teams, applying our design research methods to support partners in their planning.
HIGHLIGHTS
COLLABORATING IN A PANDEMIC (2020-2022)
MOVING OUR WORK ONLINE
During the pandemic, we moved all our work online. Although we experienced many changes and challenges, we also discovered new ways of fostering connectedness during uncertain times.
STORIES FROM A DISTANCE
In March 2020, we launched Stories from a Distance — an initiative that ran weekly sessions to combat the isolation and loneliness of the pandemic. Through this project, we built an online community for students to engage in conversation and foster connections.
HIGHLIGHTS
MOVING TOWARDS THE FUTURE (2023-PRESENT)
INNOVATION HUB: A PHYSICAL PLACE
In Fall 2021, we were back in person. While the two years we spent working virtually demonstrated that collaboration does not have to be confined to a physical place, our new space at the UTSU Student Commons Building adds to the network of positive student spaces on campus.
EXCELLENCE THROUGH INNOVATION
In 2024, the Innovation Hub was awarded the Excellence for Innovation Award (ETIA), which celebrates ‘above-and-beyond' contributions to the University of Toronto community. Our collaborative approach to designing university spaces, services and programs on campus makes us a leader of innovation at U of T.
