Plus Designer is a social innovation platform based at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway AR. We create social design projects; connect design talents and community needs; and support and work with non-profits and individuals who play a catalytic role in communities. The mission of Plus Designer is to use design as a tool to empower students, strengthen communities, and motivate positive social impact to make a difference.
Our Collaboration
At Plus Designer, we focus on two types of collaboration within the community:
1) PROJECTS: We generate projects based on problems and needs we see in our own communities and find individuals or organizations to collaborate to solve the specific problem. Raising awareness of social problems and serving the community thus enhances students learning experience.
2) TRAINING: We believe in the power of "Design Thinking" and consider it a skill that can be learned through training and practicing. So, we accept requests from individuals or organizations who are seeking design facilitators to collaborate with on ideation process and creative methodology.
Our Methodology
DISCOVER
DEFINE
DESIGN
DEVELOP
Our Team
Li Zeng
Founder
Li is an assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Central Arkansas. In teaching, she aims to use design as a powerful tool to make social changes by collaborating with non-profits and connecting with community needs through class projects. In business, she believes that design methods, innovative thinking and systematic integration can lead to significant products/ services/ solutions, thus making a difference in the world. To learn more about Li, visit lizengdesign.com
Michael Barnett
Writer & Strategist
Michael is a multimedia designer and art director for Canadian Aviation Electronics (CAE) USA. There he designs sophisticated pilot and aircrew training courseware for military clients around the world. Projects range from interactive internal training to $250 million training programs. He currently is serving as a writer and strategist for Plus Designer with a focus on educating students on design thinking, creative processes, and Innovation.
Lauren Hall
Design & Marketing Assistant
Design & Research Assistant
Lauren is a design and marketing assistant at Plus Designer. She helps the design studio with designs, marketing, client connection, and project initiation. Lauren appreciates showing how to bridge the gap between community and technology. She is a very visual person, and love showing others what she is thinking through art. Lauren is currently a junior graphic design major who also holds a minor in marketing. To learn more about her, visit Lauren's blog.
Catherine is a design research assistant at Plus Designer. She helps the studio with researches and interviews from field experts and is responsible for sorting and editing content. She also works on personal projects that reveals her interests as well as Plus Designer's mission. To her, helping others is the key to reaching happiness. She wants to have a positive impact on the community and leave a legacy of making people smile. Learn more at Catherine's blog.
Li Chen Chen
Design & Community Assistant
Li Chen is a design community assistant at Plus Designer. She mainly focuses on connecting design talents and community needs at the studio. She has a biochemistry degree gathering dust on her shelf but she has always been interested in art as a hobby. Li Chen values effort, as well as being genuinely invested in what she does. She can be somewhat obsessive with what she is working on. Li Chen's goal is to become a well-rounded artist, who’s proficient in various styles and mediums of art, but her main focus will be in digital art and graphic design. visit Li Chen's blog.
TEAM PLUS
TEAM PLUS was formed by graphic design 3 class from UCA. Every fall we seek different projects/partners that we can collabrate with and from our community. We also initiate social projects and connect with local community. If you want to get involve, come visit our class (Fall 2016, T, Th 8:00-10:40am).
Team 1: Madalyn Strickland, Merritt Haddock
Team 2: Kimberlyn Fitts, Oscar Sauceda
Team 3: Logan Melton, Paige Yutsus
Team 4: Shiori Soya, Matthew Gentry
Team 5: Jasmine Jackson, Myron L. King
Team 6: Sasha Caldwell, Matthew Bogue