DESIGN JAM

Rarely—if ever—do artists, designers, tech experts and marine scientists have the opportunity to talk together about their shared passion for the ocean – never mind collaborate. The Design Jam was a first.

Held in the fall of 2012, the Design Jam was a day of collaboration and competition involving over 60 artists, designers, tech experts and ocean experts brought together through an open call. Excitement was high not only for the unique opportunity to cross disciplines, but also to compete for a possible commission.

Designed as a laboratory for imagination and innovation, the day kicked off with “meet and greet” activities as well as presentations by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, UCSC Institute of Marine Sciences and the United Nations Safe Planet Campaign. Following, participants formed interdisciplinary teams and worked through a facilitated “design thinking” process to produce a final project concept by the end of the day.