Community Innovation Lab - Downtown Placemaking Challenge

Name: Community Innovation Lab - Downtown Placemaking Challenge
Start: 2024-12-10T08:45:00-08:00
End: 2024-12-11T17:00:00-08:00
Location: Downtown Vancouver

Schedule

Tue Dec 10 2024 at 08:45 am to Wed Dec 11 2024 at 05:00 pm

UTC-08:00

Location

Downtown Vancouver | Vancouver, WA

We are excited about launching our inaugural Community Innovation Lab. We recognize you have a passion for continuing to make Downtown Vancouver a great place to live and work. The Community Innovation Lab is a 2-day innovation-centered event that is focused on the following challenge. We recognize that you may be interested in applying for the lab or another creative and passionate staff person who may be interested. This lab will be a real-world training ground for design thinking principles and exercises with a real-life end goal of creating some new ideas and prototypes. The info is all below. Here is the link to apply. If you have questions, you can email Kevin Hiebert at [email protected].
Our challenge…
Our challenge is to tap into the collective creativity of our community to envision a downtown that is truly unique, captivating, and deeply rooted in the character of Vancouver. How can we create a downtown that stands out as a must-visit destination for tourists, prom-goers, and social media enthusiasts alike? We invite Vancouver's creative minds to propose innovative solutions that will elevate our downtown spaces, reflecting the essence of our community. This challenge aims to leverage the upcoming Main Street project to contribute to the ongoing revitalization efforts, fostering a vibrant and inclusive urban environment that enriches the lives of both residents and visitors.
Are you ready to spark change and drive innovation in your community? We invite you to apply for a spot in our Community Innovation Lab, a dynamic, two-day immersion that brings together 20 passionate individuals to tackle a local real-world challenge and co-create actionable solutions for community transformation. This is an exciting opportunity, sponsored by the Vancouver Downtown Association, to develop critical skills, collaborate with like-minded change-makers, and leave with tangible solutions that can make a lasting impact.
What is the Community Innovation Lab?
This hands-on, immersive program is rooted in the principles of design thinking and is designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and practical problem-solving. Over the course of two days, you’ll:
Engage in community immersion to understand the challenges firsthand
Collaborate with experts and peers to generate innovative solutions
Prototype your ideas and refine them based on feedback
Pitch your solutions to community stakeholders
Key Program Features
Learn Design Thinking Concepts: Learn and practice design thinking concepts that can be applied back to your work
Hands-On Prototyping: Translate your ideas into prototypes that are practical and ready to implement.
Collaborative Environment: Work with a diverse group of 20 participants, each bringing unique insights and expertise.
Actionable Outcomes: Leave with solutions you can apply to real-world community challenges.
Program Schedule
Day 1: Discovery, Challenge Framing, Immersion and Empathy Interviews
Day 2: Ideation, Prototyping, and Final Pitch
By the end of the program, you'll not only have gained valuable skills in creative problem-solving, but you'll also walk away with a network of peers and mentors who share your passion for community-driven innovation.
Why Participate?
This isn’t just another workshop. The Community Innovation Lab is a launchpad for actionable change, where you will:
Gain practical prototyping and creative problem-solving skills using a Design Thinking approach.
Strengthen your collaborative leadership abilities.
Take part in a celebration of collective innovation, with your solutions showcased to community stakeholders.
Whether you’re an individual passionate about making a difference, have a business in the downtown core or just a local creative who has ideas around unique placemaking —this is your chance to contribute, learn, and grow.
Apply Now!
If you’re ready to take the next step in your community innovation journey, we encourage you to apply today!