From Start-up to Sustainable

In October 2022, Mary Ann Mavrinac Studio X officially opened. We celebrated the work, the people, and the vision that got us there. There is an excitement mixed with a dash of chaos and exhaustion that comes from opening a new space and program. But opening wasn’t a finish line; it was another starting point.

In our “restart,” we’ve thought about what we learned, what needs to change, and where we want to go next. Even though we’re working to reset our aspirations, we’ve had some clear—and big—wins this year:

• We surpassed 1,000 new Extended Reality (XR) users.
• We added 16 high-end workstations to a first-floor classroom in the Carlson Science & Engineering Library.
• We hired Liam O’Leary as the full-time XR Developer.
• We celebrated Meg Moody’s promotion to Assistant Director for Studio X.

Our quantitative data shows we’re making steady progress, but it’s time to stop thinking like a start-up. That’s not us anymore. We have to start thinking long-term. We’re shifting our focus to qualitative factors that will create a more sustainable extended reality (XR) space and program. We’ll build that by building on our strengths:

• More programs that lower barriers to entry, such as entry-level workshops, reading groups, and guest speakers.
• Create tiers of support rooted in the specific needs of the community we serve
• Further cultivate a welcoming community and environment through weekly polls and taking the time to get to better know our students and their interests.
• Empower our students to take on leadership roles that keep us moving forward.
• Work with faculty and students across the University by helping them incorporate XR in their courses and advance their innovative transdisciplinary research.

Read more at the Studio X Annual Report.