TechnoTinkering: Design x Technology

Design students share creative, tech-driven projects showing the experimentation and unexpected approaches that come from embracing tinkering as a method and a mindset.

On view beginning August 1, 2025

Digitally designed poster with vibrant red, blue, and green colors over a grey, brutalist wall. In the poster, a retro-style 1960s woman shouts into a megaphone. Text says
A mocked-up poster from Seven Mitchell's project "Satirical Capitalist Propaganda: ONYX" that critiques capitalism.
White and red background with red, white, pink, and brown digital uniforms for a fictional football team called the Portland Roses
An image from Kieran Wood's project "Portland Roses NFL Franchise Brand Concept" depicting branded uniforms.
White background with blue and off-white mobile screen mock-ups of a social media platform.
James Elam's mock-up from "SkrapBook: The Making of an App Demo" depicting an app that allows artists and creatives to post and comment on unfinished concepts and pieces of art.
Three mock-ups of phones on a white background. The phones have white backgrounds and black handwritten text and sketches that depict a social media app.
From "JimRat: A Fitness App Concept for New Gym-Goers," Meg Lee and Cara Beth Erikson create prototypes for an app that lets you create playlists based on your fitness goals and specific muscle groups.

About This Exhibit

In a world of rapid technological innovation, designers can shape the future by embracing tinkering as a method and a mindset to foster nimbleness, curiosity, and critical thinking.

TechnoTinkering showcases the final projects of students in GD 210: Image & Tech Tinkering, taught by Valeria Lopez Torres, Assistant Professor of Graphic & Experience Design.

From digital interfaces to interactive experiences, each project embodies a unique mix of creativity and technical exploration, demonstrating how designers can wield technology with intention and impact. Embracing the tinkering mindset, students were encouraged to develop curiosity about how technology shapes experiences and interactions through hands-on exploration of different types of technologies, including design software, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and generative AI (Gen AI).
 

When

On view beginning August 1, 2025

Where

iPearl Innovation Studio, D. H. Hill Jr. Library

Admission

Free and open to the public.

Contact

Contributors