RISD kicks off manufacturing month early, debuts new facility

RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN kicked off National Manufacturing Month in October two days early with multiple events including the opening of Co-Works, a new facility focused on creation and collaboration.
RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN kicked off National Manufacturing Month in October two days early with multiple events including the opening of Co-Works, a new facility focused on creation and collaboration.

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island School of Design on Monday kicked off National Manufacturing Month in October two days early with multiple events including the opening of Co-Works, a new facility focused on creation and collaboration.
The Co-Works space at 169 Weybosset St. in RISD’s Fletcher Building is a place where faculty and students from different disciplines can explore the use of materials and making practices.
Congressman David Cicilline, who has championed the ‘Make it in America’ agenda to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, welcomed participants and supporters.
The day began with a design charrette that involved 60 community members, RISD students and faculty. The charrette was focused on the role of design in different stages of innovation.
At RISD’s Chace Center auditorium, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation Executive Director Marcel Valois shared the next steps for STEAMengine, a plan to create a center for design and manufacturing. Innovation Fellow Amy Bernhardt, a Class of 1995 RISD graduate, also spoke about Colorfast, the textiles startup she’s launching in Rhode Island.
RISD President Rosanne Somerson also announced the development of a new continuing education certificate program to support local manufacturing, which will launch in January of 2015. The program focuses on product development and manufacturing, teaching the importance of design when developing solutions to real-world problems.
“Today RISD brought together some of Rhode Island’s most innovative manufacturers, designers, and policy makers to focus on the role of art and design in industrial innovation and economic development,” said Somerson. “This focus has been at the core of RISD’s mission since our founding in 1877, and I’m excited by the opportunity for us to introduce new, creative approaches to materials and methods that may benefit our local manufacturing partners. Together I am confident we can advance manufacturing in Rhode Island.”
The day’s activities perpetuate the mission of STEAM, an initiative championed by RISD that has become a national movement. STEAM calls for adding art and design to the national Science, Technology, Engineering and Math agenda. The evolving educational model is considered one that will prepare future generations to compete in the 21st century innovation economy.

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