What is the role of the Design + Innovation Hub?

The Design + Innovation Hub serves as MICA's coordinating point for partnered courses. While faculty lead the educational experience, the Hub helps to cultivate partnerships and coordinate the institutional support needed to make those partnerships successful. This includes partner development, agreements, funding, budgeting, communications, and coordination with other MICA offices, allowing faculty to focus on teaching and student learning.

Why should I consider teaching a partnered course?

Partnered courses connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities, giving students the chance to engage with organizations, communities, and industry partners. They deepen learning through experience, strengthen relationships beyond the classroom, and prepare students to navigate the complexity of creative practice, professional collaboration, and an evolving creative economy. 

Through interdisciplinary collaboration and real-world engagement, students build the knowledge, skills, and relationships that support their future careers and creative lives. In some cases, partnered courses open pathways to continued work through research, fellowships, entrepreneurship, or other funded opportunities. 

What is a partnered course?

A partnered course is a credit-bearing course in which MICA students collaborate with an external partner to explore a real-world opportunity or challenge. The primary goal is student learning through applied experience, with faculty guiding the educational process.

How is a partnered course different from consulting or professional practice?

A partnered course is an educational experience, not a consulting engagement or fee-for-service project. Students are learning through real-world practice under the guidance of MICA faculty. While partners gain valuable research, ideas, prototypes, and other creative outcomes, the primary goal is student learning. Partnered courses can be the beginning of longer-term relationships that continue hrough funded post-course engagements, sponsored projects, applied research, entrepreneurship, or other collaborative opportunities.

Who can be an external partner?

Partners may include companies, nonprofits, community organizations, government agencies, cultural institutions, entrepreneurs, foundations, schools, healthcare organizations, or other groups interested in collaborating with MICA.

Do I need to have my own external partner?

No. Faculty may bring an existing partner or work with the Design + Innovation Hub to identify and develop a new partnership.

How do I get started?

Contact the Design + Innovation Hub as early as possible. If you already have a partner in mind or are interested in exploring a partnered course, the Hub can help guide you.

What if I'm interested but don't have a specific partner or course in mind?

Many partnerships begin with a conversation. The Design + Innovation Hub can help explore your interests, identify potential opportunities, and determine whether a partnered course (or another engagement pathway) may be a good fit.

Does every partnered course continue beyond the semester?

No. Some partnerships conclude at the end of the semester, but some can evolve into new opportunities such as fellowships, sponsored projects, applied research, entrepreneurship, or other collaborations. The Design + Innovation Hub can help identify when continued engagement makes sense and coordinate appropriate next steps.

Who should I contact if I have questions?

The Design + Innovation Hub is the primary contact for partnered courses. Feel free to contact us if you are exploring an idea, developing a course, or working with an external partner.

Email: designinnovationhub@mica.edu