IDEATE @ CMU
Integrative Design, Arts and Technology Network
(March 26 version)
Integrative Design at CMU
Carnegie Mellon University is poised to be an international leader in integrative design for high
dimensional problem spaces: design that addresses efficiency and quality of experience issues in an
integrative manner and aims to empower the user(s). Integrative design is realized through
interdisciplinary groups that can tackle the complete generated experience. CMU is one of the few
institutions in the world with high-level expertise in three key areas of integrative design: experience
creation, technology development and social analysis. Of the five leading technical Universities in the US,
CMU is the only one that also has top ten ranked units in design and the arts. CMU already supports
significant integrative activities in the areas of media design, learning media and intelligent environments.
THE IDEATE Network
The IDEATE network currently has 107 faculty and staff participants from 26 different units of CMU (ARC,
ART, BME, BXA, CEE, ChemE, CIT, CS, DES, DRA, Eberly, ECE, ENG, ETC, HCII, ICES, MechE, MPD,
MUS, OLI, PHI, PSY, QOLT, RI, SCS, SDS) across four colleges (CFA, SCS, CIT, Dietrich). Participants
from Heinz and Tepper are to be added by end of the semester. Seven working groups have been
assembled to develop the research and education agenda of the network and the shared facilities plan.
The network is also developing industry and community partnerships and student/alumni advisory boards.
The IDEATE Research Agenda
Nine cross-cutting research thrusts have been identified by the working groups: Mobile Design and
Responsive Environments; Synthetic Tools with Embodied Intelligence (Flip-Flop Making); Studying
Integrative Design Process; Living Labs – performance as proving lab; High Dimensional Media
Structures - Navigation and Narrative; Data Displays and Decision Simulators; Animation and Post
Production; Learning Media with Measurable Real World Impact; New Capitalization Structures and
Entrepreneurship in Creative Industries. A work-plan for each thrust is under development (including
vision, short and long term goals, sustainability plans, funding streams and partnerships). Research
activity in the thrusts will start in August 2013.
The IDEATE Education Agenda – cross CMU undergraduate concentrations
The working groups are developing interdisciplinary concentrations in media design, intelligent
environments and learning media (and a possible additional one in entrepreneurship for creative
industries). The concentrations will be embedded in relevant degrees across the participating colleges.
The concentrations will enrich the student resident experience by providing integrative design
experiences and connections to diverse cohorts for interested students. Each concentration will contain
four interdisciplinary courses and a collaborative capstone related to the IDEATE research thrusts.
Concentrations will launch in 2014. Related minors will also be developed.
The IDEATE facilities
IDEATE is exploring a network of facilities that will increase capacity in digital media and fabrication for
CMU and the Pittsburgh community. The planned network includes: a large scale collaborative
fabrication, simulation and presentation facility at Penn Avenue, a performance capture and immersive
display facility in partnership with WQED, a children’s make lab in partnership with the Children’s Museum,
a collaboration with Tech Shop for small/medium scale fabrication projects and student informal
fabrication needs. The network will help advance Pittsburgh as a destination for creative industries.
Budget and fund-raising
The realization of the first stage of IDEATE plans (including facilities) requires approximately $30 million.
Discussions with potential funders and sponsors are underway and a funders’ summit is being planned by
CMU advancement for May 2013. The unique characteristics of the network (integrative design research
and education across diverse disciplines with strong connections to community and industry) combined
with the growing need for integrative design approaches to complex problems, will generate significant
future opportunities for funding from industry, federal and private sources.