When Mount Royal University’s Wellness Services decided to move their mental health resources to D2L, they didn't just want to migrate content—they wanted to revolutionize it. To lead that transformation, they turned to the expertise of fourth-year Information Design student Rica Abalos. As the creative lead for the new Mini Mental Health Primer, Abalos was tasked with turning clinical statistics into an engaging, interactive experience. Her goal was to dismantle the "homework" feel of digital modules and replace it with a space that felt open and supportive. “I wanted to make the content more inviting,” Abalos explains. “We really wanted to move away from the idea that mental health is something to be ashamed of or talked about in secret.” The power of purposeful design Abalos applied her design training…

The Fall 2024 Innovation Sprint came to an inspiring conclusion on November 20th with the Innovation Sprint Final Presentations. Over the past five weeks, four exceptional student teams tackled real-world business challenges in partnership with local organizations, demonstrating the power of innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving. The Innovation Sprint is a unique, career-accelerating program that immerses students in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment. Through collaboration with industry leaders, participants use design thinking and innovation methodologies to address pressing challenges faced by businesses and organizations. Beyond the solutions developed,, students gain invaluable skills, expand their professional networks, and make a real-world impact, all while receiving a $600 stipend for their efforts. Team Kale Health Team Kale Health collaborated with their partner organization to tackle complex challenges and deliver innovative solutions. A standout contributor on the team was Rayna…

Bold ideas to address systemic problems Representing Mount Royal University at the 2023 Map the System nationals, Alita Vaz (information design) and Amisha Sharma (criminal justice) presented their study, “Navigating Cultural Identity as a Third Culture Canadian.” Their research explores the experiences of “Third Culture Canadians”—immigrants or children of immigrants who grew up in Canada while navigating a different cultural background at home. This "hybrid culture" often leads to a cultural identity crisis. To investigate this, the duo conducted desk research, an anonymous survey, and interviews with both subject-matter experts and individuals with lived experience. The findings suggest that while Canada portrays itself as an inclusive mosaic, significant systemic work is needed to foster a true sense of belonging. "Systems including the government, school boards, and society at large all contribute to this…