McMillon Innovation Studio Expanding Design Teams; Recruitment Open for Fall '21

Photo Submitted

The McMillon Innovation Studio at the Harmon Avenue Parking Facility.

The McMillon Innovation Studio, the physical hub of innovation at the U of A's Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, will expand in fall 2021, opening its space to 14 design teams focusing on three impact tracks: social, organizational and entrepreneurial. 

Design teams consist of students and a mentor seeking to go from problem to prototype.

Team problems have been focused on a variety of areas that include startups, small businesses, retail, food, healthcare, social challenges and logistics. 

Each semester, design teams unveil their prototypes and learnings to the community during Demo Day. 

Interested students can apply for the fall 2021 cohort online via the McMillon Innovation Fellowship form. 

"A big change this semester is that students are welcome to bring in their own entrepreneurial ideas or innovations and pitch those at the beginning of the semester to other potential team members," said Justin Urso, director of the McMillon Innovation Studio.

"The studio will be gathering project ideas throughout the summer, and these will also be available for students focused on organizational and social innovation to consider. We are excited to foster a culture of collaboration and innovation at the studio." 

Through their work in the studio, students will have the opportunity to innovate and equip themselves with the skills they need to be future leaders. Studio teams are interdisciplinary, representing several colleges across campus. 

Nearly 50 students representing 24 majors participated on a spring 2021 design team. They were aided by 14 industry mentors.

Their projects ranged from strengthening COVID-19 outreach campaigns to reimagining restaurant innovation to supporting minority-owned businesses. 

They focused on emerging problems across the university as well, like how students can cultivate intentional relationships to have a sense of belonging on campus and improving the digital learning environment to foster a personal connection.

About the McMillion Innovation Studio: The McMillon Innovation Studio serves as an innovation hub to students across the University of Arkansas campus. The studio's mission is to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators by cultivating their creative mindset and connecting them to opportunities to make real-world impact. Students in the studio are given access to valuable mentorship and resources, providing further support to cultivate their creative skills and empower them to deliver impact innovation through organizational, social, and entrepreneurial change. 

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio and Startup Village, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.