Tyler Nock

Industrial Design, 2020

In conjunction with OSU University Libraries

Universities are full of students and scholars that have diverse levels of knowledge and expertise. Research is often done in a vacuum; however, it has a lot to gain from unexpected, serendipitous connections.

While universities offer spaces intended to spark collaborative interactions, a lack of social infrastructure makes these encounters intimidating. Using the Research Commons at The Ohio State University as a backdrop, what can be done to create a destination for spontaneous encounters between researchers?

The STEEP collaborative zone is a hybrid physical and digital environment which facilitates the discovery of unique connections among University Researchers of diverse backgrounds. This collaborative zone includes a match-making system that makes this discovery quick and easily accessible.

With STEEP’s innovative match-making system, researchers can discover connections across diverse disciplines that originally may not have been thought possible.

With a variety of environments suited for activities ranging from collaborating in open work spaces to discussing plans over a cup of coffee in the lounge, the STEEP collaborative zone gives researchers the ideal space to meet, share knowledge and establish new connections.

Tyler Nock From the physical world in Products and Spaces to the digital world in System & Interface design, Tyler's focus has always been on understanding people and their behaviors to create meaningful and memorable experiences. He believes empathy is the key element to create something impactful. Through his five years of studying Industrial Design, he has gained a wide range of skills in various disciplines that inspire him to take on any challenge.