Collaborative innovation workshops for organizations
The Design Lab helps organizations tackle complex challenges through facilitated design thinking sessions, collaborative workshops, and rapid problem-solving experiences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Design Lab?
Launched in summer 2021, the Design Lab at COhatch Gateway is a space for the Ohio State and greater central Ohio community to come together to address grand challenges, accelerate innovation, engage in collaborative creation, and network with purpose. Uniquely located among workforce professionals at COhatch’s coworking and office space, the Design Lab is a catalyst for creativity and connection between Ohio State and the surrounding community — a space for innovative partnerships that allow new ideas to grow and flourish.
What do organizations use the Design Lab for?
The Design Lab helps teams move beyond traditional meetings and toward meaningful outcomes in a structured environment. Organizations across industries use the Design Lab to:
- Solve complex business or organizational challenges
- Align leadership teams around strategic priorities
- Explore new products, services, or initiatives
- Improve customer or employee experiences
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration
- Generate and test new ideas quickly
What does a Design Lab session look like?
Design Lab experiences are facilitated sessions that guide participants through collaborative problem-solving activities designed to generate insight and action. Sessions may include:
- Defining and reframing complex challenges
- Structured brainstorming and idea generation
- Design thinking and innovation exercises
- Rapid prototyping or solution mapping
- Prioritizing and refining potential solutions
- Creating action plans for next steps
Depending on your organization’s goals, sessions may range from half-day workshops to multi-day engagements.
Who can work with Ohio State at the Design Lab?
The Design Lab partners with organizations across sectors, including:
- Corporate employers and business teams
- Small businesses and startups
- Healthcare systems and health organizations
- Government agencies and public sector teams
- Nonprofit organizations and mission-driven groups
- Educational institutions and academic departments
- Innovation, strategy, or product development teams
- Professional associations and industry groups
Whether you're part of a large organization or a smaller team exploring new ideas, the Design Lab provides a collaborative environment to move from challenge to actionable solutions.
Unlock innovation at the Design Lab
If you've got an idea or problem to “workshop,” a team to empower, or an event to host, the Ohio State Design Lab is the environment you need. With a space that fosters collaboration and a convenient central Ohio location, the Design Lab can be the catalyst you need for meaningful collaboration.
A space built for collaboration
The Design Lab is designed to support interactive learning and creative problem-solving. Features include:
- Space for up to 45 attendees
- Up to 20 laptops and iPads for use in the space
- Whiteboards and ideation tools
- Flexible collaborative workspace
- Facilitation of design thinking and prototyping sessions
From ideas to implementation
Our team hosts in-person or virtual immersive design thinking sessions that accelerate innovation, empower change, and democratize transformation. Our design thinking sessions take what would typically be accomplished in a year or more of ongoing meetings and condense progress into a few hours or days. We do this by applying design thinking models from Apple and other innovation leaders, while strategically bringing the right voices to the table. We center a bias toward action and embrace an iterative and nimble approach to change.
If you have a grand challenge or opportunity or simply want to explore accelerating progress on a key initiative, please reach out — we’re happy to partner or consult.
Visiting the Design Lab
The Design Lab is located within COhatch the Gateway at 1581 North High Street.
Access
COhatch requires members to use a keycard to access the co-working space, so a member of the Ohio State team will meet you at the door to let you in and direct you to the Design Lab.
Parking
Additional visitor parking is available behind COhatch in the A and B lots for $2.50 per hour using the Park Mobile app. In the app, search for zone 69104, select Columbus, OH, and choose the duration of time you'd like to park.
Start the conversation
Interested in hosting a Design Lab session or exploring how it could support your organization’s goals? Email designlab@osu.edu with a brief description of your event or idea, and our team will assist in making it happen.