Designed to inspire DMACC West Campus students, staff and faculty, the Celebrate! Innovation project stresses the importance of creative thinking and innovation through a positive, stimulating environment. The exhibit is intended to improve attendance, increase motivation, and engage participants. The project details the people and technology behind successful innovation and showcases a variety of innovative teaching and learning methodologies both in and out of the classroom.

Celebrate! Innovation exhibit groups transform the campus into a reflection of the innovative thinking that has brought us to where we are today. They show how a diverse group of inspired people chose to be active participants who contributed to society by adding value to everyday life. They create a visually engaging environment to begin conversations and prompt questions. Discovery begins when someone can’t help but look at portrait mural or a piece of technology and ask, “Why?” or “What did they do?” or “What was the purpose of this?”

Recent studies and employer surveys have pointed to a deficiency in creativity and innovation skills in graduates of both 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. The Celebrate! Innovation project focuses on innovative teaching and learning methodologies that include the use of state-of-the-art technologies, creative ways to teach and deliver class content, lunch-n-learns presented by outside innovators, and Innovation Week (iWeek ), an event where traditional classes are replaced by a large number of interactive workshops and seminars focused on creativity and innovation-related topics.