We want the HIVE to become the Hub for Innovation, Visualization, & Experimentation in the Faculty of Arts.

Why A Hub?

Hubs are buzzing, generative spaces that bring people together. They are sites of activity, networking, ideation, and creation—dynamic environments where new ideas take shape.

As a hub, the HIVE would serve as a central space for collaboration and creativity within the Faculty of Arts. Open to students, faculty, and staff, it would provide a space where the broader Arts community can explore intersectional approaches to learning, research, and problem-solving. 

The vision for this hub in the Faculty of Arts was informed by extensive conversations, field assessments, and a integration of various formal and informal sources (i.e., environmental scans, tours of local makerspaces in the BC Lower Mainland) to help situate the recommendations for this proposal. A more comprehensive review of this process can be found in The Appendix.

Community-Centred Innovation

Innovation has always been at the core of the HIVE, but it is rooted in human need, not just for the sake of progress. Through human-centred design, we develop meaningful, responsive solutions that address real challenges and serve real people. As UBC's largest faculty, Arts is home to a diverse range of strengths, goals, and needs, making it an ideal space for innovation that is adaptable and community-driven rather than for technological advancement alone.

By keeping "Innovation" in the HIVE's name, we affirm that true innovation emerges from engagement with students, faculty, and staff in Arts, the broader UBC community, and our regional and global partners. The HIVE is a space where innovation is relational, ethical, and transformative and aims to amplify human experiences, rather than chasing progress for its own sake.

Visualization for Impact

Visualization is essential to the way we work at the HIVE. It allows us to translate complex ideas into tangible forms that facilitate shared understanding across disciplines and communities. Whether through napkin sketches, storyboards, interactive media, or immersive technologies, visualization helps bring abstract concepts to life and makes knowledge more accessible. By keeping "Visualization" in the HIVE's name, we recognize its role in communication and supporting the creative process at every stage of collaborative problem-solving. 

Visualization also plays an important role in our iterative design process. We use low-fidelity prototypes to explore ideas quickly, medium-fidelity proofs of concept to test solutions in real-world settings, and high-fidelity prototypes to refine and implement designs for broader community impact. We always keep in mind that "It's A Prototype", allowing us to adapt, refine, and improve based on new perspectives and emerging insights. Visualization is not just a tool for expression but a critical method for innovation, experimentation, and meaningful change.

The Importance of Experimentation

Experimentation is at the heart of how we learn, research, and create at the HIVE. It is an approach that embraces uncertainty, iteration, and discovery, allowing us to test ideas, refine solutions, and adapt to new insights. In both learning and scholarship, experimentation leads to curiosity and critical thinking, making it a powerful tool for generating ideas that are responsive and relevant. 

By changing "Education" to "Experimentation" in the HIVE's name, we emphasize that learning is not confined to the classroom. It happens through hands-on exploration, collaborative research, and real-world application. Experimentation allows us to move fluidly between the domains of teaching, research, and community-situated applications: research informs teaching & learning, teaching & learning fuels innovation, and innovation responds to community needs. This change in name speaks to an adaptive, inquiry-driven process where knowledge is co-created, tested, and continuously refined.