About EUREKA!
What is EUREKA!?
EUREKA! is an annual 48-hour interdisciplinary collaborative event that provides a unique opportunity for RIT students to engage with a Rochester area community partner to initiate social change through design thinking strategies.
EUREKA! shows students that their passion and skills can really make a difference in the community, and Rochester community organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and approaches to complex challenges. It’s a winning situation for everyone. Many students continue to work on their team concepts with the community partner, or as Capstone Projects and as Independent Studies. Several EUREKA! alumni have pursued professional opportunities in social design after graduation as a result of their participation in EUREKA! events.
What does EUREKA! mean?
The word EUREKA! references the moment one has discovered the solution to a problem, as in, “EUREKA!, I have found it!” It is a fun and energetic word… and is a greeting of hello and goodbye among EUREKA! participants.
Who can participate?
All RIT students are welcome! Designers, engineers, business students, et cetera– no matter your major, your skills will be put to good use (and hopefully expanded upon)!
If you’re not a student but still want to participate, we’d love to have you help out in other ways. Contact Lorrie (Lorrie.Frear@rit.edu) to find out what role you can play in EUREKA!
Meet the EUREKA! Team
Lorrie Frear (she/her)
Lorrie Frear is a Professor in the School of Design in the College of Art and Design at RIT.
She is a life-long proponent of interdisciplinary collaborative learning experiences in the classroom, and in active involvement in the community. She has created numerous initiatives and projects throughout her teaching career at RIT to connect students to the Rochester community.
EUREKA! was created in 2014 to provide students with the opportunity to work together to generate solutions to challenges faced by community organizations.
Brooklyn Hutchison (she/her)
Brooklyn is a senior in the Graphic Design program at RIT, double minoring in Photography and Psychology. She is interested in book design, but strives to design for social and environmental good in all aspects of design. Brooklyn is currently completing a book design internship with the Vignelli Center for Design Studies.
Gabi Johnston (she/they)
Gabi is a senior in the Graphic Design program and pursuing minors in Marketing and Comic Studies. They are interested in print, branding, and packaging. Gabi works as a designer with Command+G and a marketer with RIT Venture Creations.
Char Miller (they/she)
Char is a senior in the Graphic Design program at RIT. They are minoring in Craft and Materials Studies and completing their immersion in Advertising and Public Relations. Char is also the Studio Manager for Command+g Design Lab. Char focuses on brand design, packaging design, and typography.
Sneha Yalgi (she/her)
Sneha Yalgi is a senior in the Graphic Design program at RIT and is minoring in Advertising and Public Relations. Her interests in design lie in branding, social media, interactive, and motion design. She has interned with SAS this past summer and has worked for various RIT social media accounts.