oday's successful innovators must examine problems from multiple angles. They must be practical, rational, creative and empathetic. They must employ expertise from fields outside their own. They must be "design thinkers."
Design thinking is a form of solutions-based, or solutions-focused, thinking with the broad goal of creating a better future, instead of solving one specific problem. UNT is embracing discovery and innovation through interdisciplinary collaboration and by design, driving new projects, programs and solutions.
"Design thinking does not operate according to any pre-set formulas, and its outcomes are not predictable," says Michael Gibson, professor of communication design at UNT. "Design research begins by examining situations as they might evolve in the future rather than situations that have already transpired. It's a future-focused way to connect creativity and innovation."
In the 2017 edition of UNT Research magazine, learn about how UNT's researchers are working together across disciplines with other universities and partners to make new discoveries. From improving global security physically and digitally to creating more durable materials for many types of manufacturing and discovering biobased solutions from plant DNA, they're creating solutions to improve our world and sustain the future.
Before the pioneer movement, healthy prairies dominated the North Texas region. The grass species and many of the wildflowers that grow alongside them have become extremely rare in North Central Texas.
And today, most of the original 12 million acres of the rich Blackland Prairie is largely gone. Learn how UNT researchers and their dedicated students are working year-round at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) -- an incredible field lab -- to research and restore these sensitive ecosystems.
Learn about UNT's alumni innovators who are shaping the future of some of the world's leading industries and companies. They are helping to prevent cancer, treating epileptic seizures, improving hearing, serving people with autism and building better protection for soldiers.
