FIT Institutional Repository

Ayúdamedesign is dedicated to promoting diversity and opportunities in the design industry, specifically addressing the underrepresentation of Latino/Hispanic artists. Our program offers educational resources, mentorship programs, skill development workshops, community engagement activities, and networking events to empower aspiring Latino/Hipanic artists. By providing access to these resources and opportunities, we aim to bridge the gap in representation and create a supportive environment where diverse voices can thrive in the art world.

In addition to our core programs, we provide a welcoming community space equipped with an event room, commuter lab, designer workshop, and study room. Recognizing the barriers some face in attending events, we extend our reach through our Traveling Box initiative, delivering valuable resources, informative materials, and design kits directly to students unable to join us in person.

The Heartstopper Project is a Netflix experience centered around the book/Netflix series Heartstopper. The experience will provide fans of the show with an immersive experience based around the show sets, similar to previous Netflix experiences for series such as Stranger Things, while also including resources for the queer community and serving as a space to uplift queer voices and celebrate their joy. Seeing as Heartstopper is a series geared towards younger audiences, it is the perfect choice for a safe experience centered around queer identities. Its family friendly, joyful approach to the queer perspective of coming of age makes it a positive source of representation in media that deserves more attention.

Traveling natural history exhibit on nocturnal species and their habitats.

Artist's Statement:

Product presentation introduces students to the process of creating three-dimensional design stories to highlight brands and products. Students are assigned a brand and begin developing concepts using research, social media, inspiration images, original sketches, and renderings.
They learn about materials that share a connection with the brand's signature and develop fabrication skills using shop tools, both mechanical and computer aided, including a laser cutter and UNC router.
Student's design, manage and install graphic elements using a vinyl cutter and 42" plotter. The brand window display project provides a 360° design experience for students in this design major.

This exhibit was about physical placemaking and was be used as a teaching tool. Craig Berger, chair, Communication Design Pathways and faculty in Spatial Experience Design, in collaboration with Keith Helmetag, designer, created an immersive, spatial, digital, illuminated installation with sound elements.