Idea Lab

Idea Lab lightbulbAbout Idea Lab

Idea Lab is a student-run project incubator that helps transform OSU students’ ideas into reality.  By providing up to $2,000* in project support and guidance through the implementation process, we are able to fuse innovative education and practical experience to grow their concepts.  

Since the program began in 2008, Idea Lab has helped more than a dozen student ideas come to fruition.  Any Ohio State University student from any department is encouraged to submit a proposal during open application periods. See the Idea Lab Archives for past projects.

When a proposed idea is accepted, the student will work with the Idea Lab’s creative staff to cultivate the project, product, or event. Students who participate in the Idea Lab program will have an innovative educational opportunity, as well as a practical entrepreneurial experience.  Workshops will be provided in the winter and spring quarters to aid in strategic planning. By helping students to navigate the entire creative process from formulation, to implementation, to evaluation, the OSU Urban Arts Space Idea Lab will generate Ohio State graduates capable of creative problem solving and idea development.      

This year, we are pleased to be partnering with the Fisher College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship.  Thanks to their support, Idea Lab applicants accepted to develop an entrepreneurial project will also be considered for a $2000 grand prize grant.  The awardee of this grant may then be automatically entered into the Center for Entrepreneurship’s Business Plan Competition.

*$2000 will be awarded to one project of entrepreneurial nature.  Smaller grants will be awarded to all other projects.  Grant size and distribution will depend on the pool of proposals.

The type of support available through Idea Lab will vary by proposal, but can include:
•    Financial support
•    Marketing and advertising assistance
•    Budgeting help
•    Time management advice
•    Brainstorming development
•    Technical and aesthetic expertise
•    Collaboration experience
•    Problem solving strategies
•    Audience development

 

Proposal Criterion & Participant Expectations

Projects will be evaluated under a variety of criterion.  Please consider the following questions when developing your proposal: Is this project innovative?  Is this project impactful to OSU students and/or the community?  Does this project have scholastic value?  Is the project feasible considering the timeline?  Idea Lab participants are expected to attend workshops on various fields, attend meetings during the development of their project, and present their project at the Idea Lab Reception during Spring Quarter.

Questions?  Check out the FAQ page or email uasidealab@gmail.com.

Looking for funding for Distinction Projects?  Try The Ohio State University Undergraduate Research Office.

 

 

2011 Idea Lab Participants

NEDA WALK
Recipient: Kelsi Schwall, 3rd year undergraduate, Psychology
Award: $500

Working with her student organization, Body Sense, Kelsi is organizing a walk to raise awareness and funds for the National Eating Disorders Association.  The walk is scheduled to take place May 14th at Fred Beekman Park on OSU's campus. The group's goals are to rise over 5,000 dollars and spread awareness not only on OSU's campus, but throughout the country.  Being passionate about the topic, Kelsi and her team of advocates are enthusiastic and hope to break down stigmas, while encouraging empowerment and positive body image.   

ColumBUS
Recipient: Benjamin Kent, 2nd year graduate, City and Regional Planning
Award: $1000

ColumBUS is going to feature student artwork on the CABS buses that travel throughout OSU's campus.  A branch of Benjamin's ongoing project OhArt!, ColumBUS is an initiative that is working to create an artistic environment that encourages people to intermingle with Columbus's local arts' scene.  The selected works will be reproduced onto  transparencies and then featured on the interior windows of CABS buses.  ColumBUS will encourage an improved communal relationship and instill a more pleasant ride for the everyday bus commuter.  Ultimately, Benjamin believes that by increasing the utilization of public transportation, we will decrease the Columbus's carbon footprint.

Columbus Media Arts Community Workshop Series
Recipient: Nicole Eggert, 5th year undergraduate, Film Studies
Award: $750

Columbus Media Arts Community Workshop Series works with undergraduates and recent graduates from Ohio State University's Film Studies Program to host a series of video production workshops during the Summer of 2011.  During the workshops, students will learn how to analyze moving art images, become familiar with movie making technology, produce creative short videos, and have the opportunity to exhibit their works in professional venues.  After the completion of these initial workshops, Nicole hopes to keep the equipment readily available for the community and continue to hold workshops. 

Visualizing The Experience of War (ViEW)
Recipients: Erica Slone, 4th year undergraduate, Art; Ash Woolson, 2nd year Master's of Fine Art candidate
Award: $750

Ash and Erica received an Idea Lab Grant last year and will be continuing their project.  ViEW is a project that aims to bring a better understanding of the war experiences of Columbus, Ohio veterans.  Artists were connected with veterans and create a work, visual or of other form, in response to the shared stories of the veterans' experience during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001 - present) and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003 - present).  These works were exhibited in the OSU Urban Arts Space this past fall and received extremely positive feedback not only from veterans, but from an extensive community of supporters.  This year, the duo is creating a booklet documenting the exhibition to share with those directly involved with the project and to send to galleries nationwide. 

Collect and Share: Storytelling Through Objects
Recipient: Ruth Smith, 1st year graduate, Art Education
Award: $1000

“Collect and Share” will partner with the Somali Women and Children’s Alliance’s (SWCA) after school program to develop and implement a weekly activity, facilitating the exploration of Somali and American culture through literacy and visual arts. The SWCA’s after school program serves four Somali community centers throughout Columbus. The program curriculum will be comprised of three parts: Collect, Examine, and Share. The  process aims to allow children to identify what elements of their culture, both Somali and American, are important to them.  In addition to the educational benefits to the children, this project will contribute towards a better understanding of the Somali culture in the greater Columbus community. This exhibit will provide an opportunity for new audiences to learn about the Somali community.