Located in the Weitz Center for Creativity, the IdeaLab (Weitz 026) is a creative space for faculty and students at Carleton to use and enjoy. With a variety of space configurations to echo Design Thinking phases and technology to enable easy collaboration and individual work, you can work on your digital dream project in the IdeaLab. In addition, similar to the Makerspace in Anderson Hall, support is just around the corner: Feel free to ask questions about the IdeaLab to Academic Technologists who are right next door in room 27.
Design Thinking
Each of these phases of design thinking are elaborated on below. (Click images for full-size versions.)
Empathize
Imagine the users of your product, viewers of your video, the audience for the experienced you are designing – who are they? What are they interested in? What does this mean for your design?
Space: this may work best in our informal Huddle space, with wireless presentation option and whiteboards (fig2).
Define
After you have collected your information about existing solutions and analyzed your audience, set your boundaries or scope by defining what it is you want to do – and what it is you don’t want to do.
Space: use the whiteboards with the formal or informal Huddle spaces.
Ideate
With your definition in place, imagine different pathways and perspectives.
Space: if you have not been using the whiteboards, now is the time to do so.
Prototype
Develop a basic model, nothing too elaborate. You want to have a model that makes the key components of your idea visible but not too detailed so that you don’t have to spend too much time on iterating – and you most likely will have to iterate.
Space: the individual work stations (fig3) can give you the computing power you need to work through your model quickly and efficiently. If your idea needs a more physical component, your next step may be the Anderson Makerspace.
Test
Bring in your target audience and ask them to experience your model. Watch them carefully and ask them a lot of questions – what works, what does not work?
Space: especially for VR development, you can test in the VR corner. Otherwise, the furniture in the IdeaLab is flexible so you can rearrange a lot of it to fit your testing needs.
Software
In the IdeaLab, students can edit videos, code with Unity, use ArcGIS, and create digital versions for 3D prints (this is great for prototyping projects for the Makerspace!) You may be wondering: can’t I just do this on my laptop? Why should I make the trek to the Weitz for a computer?
The IdeaLab’s six computers (3 MacOS, 3 WIndowsOS) are more powerful than most laptops and can run video editing and other computing intensive software more effectively. Think video editing, Unity coding, 3D modeling, or virtual reality development. The IdeaLab is great for any students who want to code on a fast desktop and want an alternative space to Anderson.
In addition, the Video Finishing Lab (Weitz 030) is a quiet space that you can also use for podcast recording. The Lightboard recording studio provides another opportunity to create interactive virtual recordings.
VR
One of the most exciting tech the IdeaLab has to offer is Virtual Reality (fig4)! There are multiple different types of VR software including an Oculus/Meta Quest, Cardboard, HTC, Hololens, and Arm Headsets. Email AT@carleton.edu to try the Cardboard or Oculus Quest headsets out. It’s a great activity to do with friends and anyone at Carleton can use it!
Reserve!
If you want to reserve the IdeaLab, the Finishing Room, or the Lightboard recording studio for any special projects, classes or workshops, fill out the reservation form. Come check it out today!