ASU Changing Futures Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

A time of change and turmoil demands the optimistic creative vision of design and the arts. That is why we are investing in the creative power of young people and the emerging generation of all ages committed to a creative and abundant world.

We believe in big ideas and limitless imagination. We believe in the beauty and truth of design as the nexus of life, art, science and technology. We believe in optimism and bravery, in generosity and possibility.

In the era of AI we are called to be more profoundly human, creative and compassionate. We believe in designing and creating in context to care for and benefit all of life, not just humans.

We believe in the power of a creative individual to change the world and make history.

Finally, we believe in our collective imagination and our shared commons.

Designing solutions for societal challenges

Very little in our world is built for the future. Designed with the mindset of unlimited resources and limited population, much of what is designed and produced fails to meet the needs of today and is destined to tragically underserve the opportunities of tomorrow. In the coming decades, almost everything will need to be reimagined and redesigned.

We need solutions at the scale of our global challenges. In this time of extraordinary need, design and the arts are more than mere embellishments — they’re powerful catalysts for societal transformation and central to our future success.

At the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, we’re disassembling the notion of art as a luxury only few can afford. The ability to synthesize big ideas across art, science, and technology is essential to everyone and impacts everything. Design and art can provide new lenses for problem-solving, reframe our perceptions of possibility, and create visceral experiences that spark empathy and collective action. Today’s pressing issues are canvases for radical opportunity and imagination.

“There are aspects of societal needs that can only be solved through design and the arts, in collaboration with other disciplines, whether it be material science, ecological studies, or behavioral economics,” says Renée Cheng, senior vice provost, dean and professor.

“It is through the things that only design and the arts can do — posing the ‘whatifs,’ visualizing possible futures, inspiring people to action, and challenging them with stories and ideas that are accessible and profoundly connected — that we will advance toward solutions. These problems are not going to be solved without the lateral simultaneous thinking that the Herberger Institute provides.”

Through Changing Futures, we’ll demonstrate the power of design and the arts as accessible, collective forces for positive change.

Inspiring creativity from every background

Across all cultures and times, children sing, dance, draw, build, and play games. They use these fundamental creative tools to express their joys and fears, shape their environments, and connect with others. As they grow, societal norms often relegate these explorations to hobbies or frivolous pursuits. But in the coming age of AI, the profoundly human practices of Design and the Arts will be critical to a positive future and a successful life.

Holding a place at the Herberger Institute for every child born in Arizona and California

The Herberger Institute is flinging its doors open and advancing human creativity at scale by reaching every child born in Arizona and California. We are offering each one a personal pathway and sustained support for their creative energies — guiding them toward prosperous careers that contribute to bettering our world. We are building the Herberger Institute as a lifelong partner in creative growth and learning, leading the transformation of careers and creative life.

We are committed to the whole-life success of our students

The full range of life experience, talent, and passion that today’s learners bring adds strength and vitality to our field. Many of our students face persistent barriers such as food insecurity, unaffordable housing or health care, and family obligations. They navigate these challenges while contending with what Cheng calls an “invisible culture” — the unspoken rules and expectations that can be unclear without guidance from mentors or experienced family members. We are evolving our support systems to help every student discover their creative pathway and find their way to success.

The

world’s greatest talent, committed to a better world

We’re bringing together the world’s most talented designers and artists from every background — future voices of our state, nation, and world. That’s why we’re expanding enrollment and making creative pathways broader and more accessible.

Reimagining relationships between entertainment, academia and the arts

We’re not only bringing more voices to art and design, we’re shaping the future with them.

Herberger Institute graduates are capable leaders and creative visionaries, changing reality with human imagination, ingenuity and creativity. Since 2013, the Institute has been building its footprint in Los Angeles, just steps from the Fashion District and in the center of the nation’s film and television industry. The Institute’s Creative Economy Hub is a key connector between ASU and one of the world’s most important centers of cultural and creative industries. By reimagining the historically transactional relationship between academia and creative industries in Los Angeles, the Hub will foster a deep and meaningful exchange around knowledge, human capital development and community building.

Through Changing Futures, anchor entities within the Hub — ASU FIDM and The Sidney Poitier New American Film School — will create new pathways into this collaborative ecosystem. For example, the ASU FIDM Museum will fuel the Creative Economy Hub as a vibrant exhibition, research and convening space highlighting innovations in fashion, film, and design, driven by strategic partnerships with industry leaders.

The Semester in LA (SiLA) Program connects Arizona students directly with world-leading industry professionals, placing them in impactful, skill-building internships and opening doors to lasting creative careers.

The Hub’s core values of individual opportunity and collective prosperity don’t just serve Los Angeles; they provide a blueprint for emerging creative economies like Phoenix. “This region is where the future is and where innovation is happening, with vision and many voices,” says Dennita Sewell, director of ASU FIDM and professor of practice.

Change futures by supporting

Transform global education

Live, Create and Thrive Campaign

Despite the immense creative potential of our growing student body, significant barriers of economic insecurity, limited resources and career uncertainty can restrict their ability to thrive and innovate. Our Live, Create and Thrive Campaign aims to transform this challenge with support for basic needs, tools and materials, and career-shaping opportunities like internships and global programs.

Endless Games and Learning Lab

Traditional education models struggle to keep pace with evolving technology, limiting access to scalable, high-intensity learning. The Endless Games and Learning Lab at the MIX Center integrates immersive game environments, research and global partnerships to create personalized, technology-driven learning.

“The Endless Lab will redefine the future of games, learning and opportunity, and empower individuals and communities around the world,” says ASU President Michael M. Crow.

Space to Inspire

In an increasingly competitive educational landscape, Herberger Institute faces the critical challenge of outdated learning spaces that hinder student creativity and collaboration. Our Space to Inspire initiative would reimagine and renovate over 30 existing buildings across multiple campuses, allowing the Institute to demonstrate leadership, inspire innovation, attract top talent and provide cuttingedge environments that empower the next generation of designers and artists.

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Empower community resilience

Reclamation

Urban landscapes often lack green spaces and sustainable infrastructure, limiting community well-being. Reclamation, a “seeds of change” project within the Narrative and Emerging Media Program, envisions a future where highways in Los Angeles transform into vibrant community spaces through co-design and digital twin technology. With philanthropic support, this initiative will reimagine urban spaces as hubs of sustainability, urban farming and public art, connecting communities to a shared vision of renewal and ecological harmony.

Indigenous Placekeeping and Design

Indigenous communities have long led sustainable design practices, yet their perspectives remain underrepresented in mainstream architecture and urban planning. The Master of Science in Indigenous Placekeeping and Design from The Design School at ASU empowers students to co-create culturally grounded solutions alongside tribal communities. This program will advance community-embedded design that honors Indigenous knowledge, strengthens tribal sovereignty and fosters sustainable development rooted in cultural traditions.

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Inspire tomorrow’s game changers

Media Experience Service Hub (MESH)

Emerging technologies demand a new kind of creative workforce, yet many students lack opportunities to develop real-world expertise. ASU’s Media Experience Service Hub (MESH) connects students, faculty and industry leaders through role-specific guilds in extended reality (XR), fostering handson learning, mentorship and collaboration.

Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation MS E+I

Many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle to bridge the gap between ideas and impact, lacking structured pathways to develop and scale their ventures. The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MS E+I) program equips students with design thinking and problemsolving expertise to create innovative solutions, launch businesses and lead transformative change across industries.

Esports Digital Economy

The development of esports merges strategy, technology and teamwork, equipping students with critical skills for the digital economy. The School of Arts, Media and Engineering hosts ASU’s largest esports facility, providing a platform for students to develop critical thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills through gaming. By integrating

strategy, technology and collaboration, esports prepares students for careers in digital industries, game development and emerging tech sectors, positioning them as leaders in an evolving digital economy.

LOOM Laboratory of Open Matters

The Loom Lab uses creativity to deliver meaningful and sustainable design solutions and experiences, interwoven with technologies to decode future trends, that enable a better future for people and the planet. The LOOM Lab concentrates on the integration between fashion design and innovative technology, pushing the boundaries of the garment’s functionality and performance and enhancing the quality of life for those managing various health conditions.

ASU-LACMA Fellowship

Advancing a new generation of art museum leaders to create a more inclusive museum field, the ASU-LACMA Master’s Fellowship is a partnership between ASU and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with the aim to culturally broaden the staff and leadership of art museums in the United States. The fellowship offers a three-year degree program that pairs rigorous academic instruction through traditional masters-level coursework with on-the-job work experience.

Change futures by supporting

Advance technology for good

Design and Artificial Intelligence

AI is transforming industries. However, ensuring ethical and life-centered applications remains a challenge. The Design and Artificial Intelligence Bachelor of Science program, a collaboration between The Design School and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering, explores AIdriven solutions that enhance accessibility and equity. This program prepares students to create technology that serves communities and advances social good.

The Digital Culture Summer Institute

Tomorrow’s creators and innovators need technical and interdisciplinary skills to build a better future for themselves and their communities, yet many students have limited opportunities to engage in hands-on, technology-driven learning. The Digital Culture Summer Institute offers project-focused workshops for students ages 12 to 18, integrating arts, music, digital media, computer science and engineering. By working directly with faculty and graduate students, participants gain valuable experience that prepares them for success in a technology-infused world.

The Immersive Storytelling Project

Immersive experiences have the power to amplify a wide range of voices and revolutionize storytelling through technology. The Immersive Storytelling Project, hosted by The Poitier Film School, brings students from ASU and historically Black colleges to the MIX Center to create extended reality narratives. By utilizing cutting-edge technology like the Planar LED Virtual Production Stage and Dolby Atmos audio suites, students gain hands-on experience in immersive media, shaping the next generation of storytelling through innovation and inclusion.

The CACTUS Music Lab

Understanding the role of music in human experience requires innovative, crossdisciplinary research. The CACTUS Music Lab (Cognition, Analysis, Computation and Theory Under the Sun) fosters collaborative music research, integrating diverse perspectives to develop new methodologies. Through student-driven projects and applied research, the lab cultivates creativity and curiosity while making music research accessible and engaging. Expanding support for research assistantships will enhance opportunities for students to contribute to groundbreaking work at the intersection of music, technology and cognition.

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Accessible as an active teaching laboratory and public asset, the ASU FIDM Museum houses one of the most significant fashion collections in the world.