About the Design Lab
Transformative Design at 91风流
Design is central to and shapes nearly every facet of human life. Thoughtful, collaborative, holistic, and creative approaches to Design have the transformative ability to shape our world for the better.
In recent years, there has been a growing understanding of the importance of “design thinking” in education, industry, governance, and the world at large. The world has undoubtedly benefited from the innovations, inventions, creations, and explorations that have been made possible by more people learning to think like designers and leverage design methodologies. The Matthew S. Browning Design Lab builds upon and expands this work by fueling its impact at Weber State University and trailblazing new ideas of what “design” can be.
The Matthew S. Browning Design Lab was established to carry forward the legacy of Ogden-based innovator, entrepreneur, and community catalyst Matthew S. Browning. We do this by supporting new and inspiring collaborative projects in which student and faculty teams from across campus (and beyond) can experiment on the design of new systems, services, experiences, interfaces, organizations, policies, frameworks, tools, and products.
An image from the 'This Was Water' project.
Guiding Values
- Design should be a holistic and systemic approach powered by hard questions.
- Creativity should be cultivated, celebrated, and allowed to flourish.
- Tolerance for ambiguity is a critical skill that will be a defining characteristic of future leaders as our world faces increased complexity and uncertainty.
- Voice and agency should always be given to the human and non-human stakeholders directly and indirectly affected by all decisions and actions.
- Collaboration is integral to good design and meaningful change.
Our Why
- Bolster the field of Design regionally and position Weber State University as a key player in the Design field broadly.
- Make significant contributions to the field of Design locally, nationally, and globally.
- Expand the investment in and value of creativity throughout Weber State University.
- Catalyze change in our community and region by funding impactful projects and graduating students ready to innovate, question, challenge, and expand their fields.
- Continue the legacy of Matthew S. Browning, an Ogden entrepreneur, change maker, innovator, and catalyst who helped shape the social and cultural fabric of Ogden at its emergence in the twentieth century.
Our How
- Support and offer design-centered services that contribute to the advancement and vibrancy of Ogden and the surrounding region.
- Provide funding to faculty, students, and staff interested in the field of Design or with ideas about significant innovation across sectors that may benefit from design-thinking being integrated.
- Partner with individuals, organizations, and institutions within and outside of Weber State University to lead, support, or facilitate design-focused research projects.
- Inform, guide, and develop design-focused curriculum and/or learning opportunities for students at Weber State University
Fields of Design
Design is an increasingly collaborative, multidisciplinary, and transitory term used to describe work across an innumerable range of sectors, industries, and disciplines. The Matthew. S Browning Design Lab has embraced this ambiguity and supports all fields that work directly in or adjacent to design methodologies. Many of the fields of design include the word “design” while many do not.
We are more interested in the power of design than its definition. We see design as a tool for creating with more intention, foresight, inquiry, empathy, responsibility, and vision.