Technology, demographics, and lifestyle demands have shaped the way students expect to access, consume, and engage with information, and each other. Everyday technology—from mobile devices to social media—has embedded on-demand information and spontaneous interactions into the palms of our hands. And when students step onto a campus, they expect their university to provide them with learning experiences that assimilates into their daily lives.
To adapt to this changing paradigm, many universities are shifting away from a traditional model where academic programs are siloed from other disciplines: A more interdisciplinary and collaborative model infused with technology, or overlaid with rich digital infrastructure, is gaining popularity as a means to provide students with more dynamic learning opportunities, especially in the arts. But universities face physical challenges within the confines of their existing campuses, which have been defined by isolated and restricted spaces for decades. I was honored to facilitate roundtable discussions around this topic at the recent International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD) conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where a number of academic leaders and I explored potential advantages and solutions for integrated design opportunities.