In an interview with SDSU News in 2016, I shared my vision for the ZIP Idea Lab: to create a space that facilitated creative thinking and collaborative problem-solving. As the inaugural Director of the ZIP Idea Lab at San Diego State University, I had the unique opportunity to build a program from the ground up—one designed to empower students, faculty, and administrators to tackle complex challenges through creative problem-solving. This experience was transformative, both for the university and for me personally. In reflecting on this journey, I’ve distilled five key lessons that can guide others in creating impactful Idea Labs at their own institutions.

The Vision and Impact of an Idea Lab

At its core, an Idea Lab is a hub for innovation and experiential learning. In the same SDSU interview, I emphasized that the lab would bridge the gap between theory and practice, serving as a platform where students and faculty could collaborate to solve real-world problems. It’s where ideas meet execution, where students and faculty collaborate to solve real-world problems. At ZIP Idea Lab, our mission was to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling students to develop the skills they’d need in their future careers while delivering measurable value to the university and the community.

Lessons Learned

1. Building the Right Foundation

Launching an Idea Lab requires more than a vision; it demands a clear mission, aligned stakeholders, and a framework that adapts to institutional needs. Reflecting on the early stages of the ZIP Idea Lab during the SDSU interview, I outlined the importance of setting a strong foundation to ensure long-term success. At ZIP Idea Lab, we worked to define our goals early, ensuring buy-in from university leadership, faculty, and external partners.

2. Engaging Stakeholders Effectively

An Idea Lab thrives when it’s embraced by the entire community. We prioritized stakeholder engagement—hosting workshops, creating advisory boards, and establishing regular feedback loops—to ensure our lab was meeting the needs of everyone involved.

3. Structuring for Success

A successful Idea Lab balances creativity with structure. We designed programs that guided students through the innovation process while allowing space for exploration. This included experiential learning opportunities that delivered real-world value, such as consulting projects that generated over 3,300 hours of impact for the university.

4. Measuring Impact

Demonstrating the value of the Idea Lab was critical for maintaining support and securing resources. This aligned with the goals I shared in the SDSU interview, where I discussed the need for measurable outcomes to validate the program’s impact. We developed clear metrics—including project outcomes, participant satisfaction, and long-term student success—to quantify our impact and communicate it effectively to stakeholders.

5. Sustaining Momentum

Once the initial excitement wears off, maintaining momentum can be challenging. By continuously evolving our programs, fostering new partnerships, and celebrating our successes, we ensured the Idea Lab remained a vital part of the university ecosystem. In doing so, we were moved into the Engineering & Interdisciplinary Sciences Building to better collaborate with Entrepreneurships and Innoavtion.

Transferring These Lessons to New Idea Labs

While every institution is unique, the lessons learned at ZIP Idea Lab are universally applicable. By leveraging these insights, new Idea Labs can:

• Accelerate their setup and implementation process.
• Avoid common pitfalls and missteps.
• Tailor programs to their specific goals and communities.
• Demonstrate impact from the outset, ensuring sustained support.

Conclusion

Building the ZIP Idea Lab was a challenging yet deeply rewarding experience. Looking back on the vision I shared in the SDSU interview, I’m struck by how closely our outcomes mirrored those early aspirations, underscoring the importance of thoughtful planning and execution. The lessons I’ve shared here are not just reflections of what worked but also of what’s possible. For those considering starting an Idea Lab, I hope these insights provide a valuable starting point for your journey.

If you’re exploring the idea of bringing an Idea Lab to your institution, I’d love to share more about what we accomplished at ZIP and how those experiences could help shape your vision.

References

San Diego State University. (2016, September). Facilitating creative thinking at SDSU. SDSU News. Retrieved from https://www.sdsu.edu/news/2016/09/facilitating-creative-thinking-sdsu