Key Takeaways from UMA's 2020 Virtual Design Jam: New York & Detroit

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light the large role manufacturing plays in our country’s safety, resilience, ability to innovate, and economic sustainability. This new awareness helped solidify the importance of the 2020 Virtual Design Jam events and also created opportunities to elevate the events to not only bring communities together, but to also propose solutions for personal protective equipment (PPE) and innovate on new strategies to deliver services in ways that met safety guidelines.

UMA and our partners in Detroit – Design Core Detroit and College of Creative Studies – and in New York City – Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Council and Pratt Center for Community Development – leveraged online tools to bring together local ecosystems and national experts in ways that were previously done in-person. While the new virtual experience posed some initial challenges it also opened up new possibilities. Over 60 people from across the country participated in each event and the virtual space created a level playing field allowing everyone an equal way to contribute regardless of skill set, prior experiences, or location.