DFGN UnBoxed organization
Design Factory Global Network at Aalto University
DFGN is a network of 38 Design Factories located in 25 countries across 5 continents, operating within different universities and research institutions. Each Design Factory serves as a unique innovation hub and experimentation platform, driving change within its own institution and in its surrounding environment.
The DFGN hypothesizes that Design Factories, innovation hubs, and similar innovation ecosystems can strengthen the industry landscape of a region. Our vision is to build the diversity and skills necessary to operate in these evolving environments, thus amplifying the resilience of these landscapes. We aim to facilitate serendipitous interactions between stakeholders, bringing together research, education, and business practitioners and creating new opportunities for continuous learning and development.
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For more information, please visit here.
PACE University
Pace University has been transforming students’ lives academically, professionally, and socioeconomically since 1906. With campuses in New York City and Westchester, it serves 13,600 students across seven schools, offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Rooted in its mission of Opportunitas, Pace empowers students to reach their full potential as innovative thinkers and problem solvers, uniquely prepared to make positive and lasting contributions to the world.
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The Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace is at the forefront of technology education, equipping students with strong technical foundations and hands-on learning experiences. With expert faculty in AI, cybersecurity, data science, and human-centered design, Seidenberg connects students to top companies, start-ups, and government agencies, providing valuable industry connections and career opportunities.
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The NYC Design Factory, housed within the Seidenberg School, is a collaborative hub where students use technology and design tools to develop as creative problem solvers. Through passion-based learning and co-creation with faculty and industry practitioners, it fosters interdisciplinary and international collaboration, empowering students to experiment, innovate, and tackle real-world challenges.
International Design Factory Week by DFGN
The DFGN UnBoxed 2025 will be held alongside with the International Design Factory Week 2025 (IDFW). The IDFW is a one-week-long event where two representatives from each Design Factory (DF) gather to get to know the community, share best practices, and plan for collaborations. Through workshops and collaborative working sessions, participants can refuel and expand their professional toolboxes, as well as strengthen their ties with educational change-makers from around the world. The IDFW is a closed event, with only two representatives from each DF being invited to gather around one table.
DFGN UnBoxed 2025
UnBoxed is a novel concept for a non-traditional conference brought to you by the Design Factory Global Network. This gathering is dedicated to exploring new educational boundaries and themes that resonate with our diverse network's interests, thereby expanding our community's knowledge beyond the conventional box.
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Unboxed provides an ideal platform for experts, educators, and practitioners from DFGN to share their insights and experiences.
In its 2024 edition, Unboxed focuses on the educational horizon. Our aim is to widen the scope of teaching and learning by sharing best practices across our community. It offers a collaborative opportunity to transform our educational frameworks, ideas and practices in the realm of learning and teaching.
