Design Studio
K•Labs is a faculty-led design studio at the Michael Graves College that creates real solutions for public service and non-profits. K•Labs works with the Kean University community and other regional clients to deliver creative and practical solutions to spatial, branding and environmental challenges. K•Labs employs students from the School of Public Architecture and the Robert Busch School of Design, as well as other Kean programs, under faculty direction to deliver high quality results.
Liberty Hall Museum Collaborative Research Initiatives
Students and faculty within the Michael Graves College at Kean University have been working on collaborative research initiatives at Liberty Hall Museum. Several projects within this collaboration are shared at the following link: design.kean.edu/libertyhall
The Elizabeth Courthouse Juvenile/Family Waiting Room
The power of design, and the value of collaboration, is evident in the recent KLabs Studio Project completed by students of interior and graphic design for the Elizabeth Street Courthouse.
The design team was challenged with creating a more inspiring, comfortable and functional environment for the existing Juvenile Waiting Room area. Currently, this space contains dark wood paneling, uncomfortable old church pews for seating, and signage that is chaotic and confusing. Juveniles and family members often sit in this space for four to six hours while waiting to enter the courtroom.
Working as a team, design students created an environment that is peaceful, calming, welcoming and functional, through the use suggestion of a soothing color palette, new patterned flooring, ganged seating, and signage that incorporated both art work and graphics.
The K•Labs team successfully presented their design solutions to the Family Engagement Committee on Wednesday, March 30th.
Student Design Team:
- Brandy Ehrenschneider/Interior Design/Sophomore
- Sarah Gilmore/Interior Design/Sophomore
- Yucel Yazici/Interior Design/Junior
- Jubenal Torres/Graphic Design/Junior
Faculty involved included:
- Linda O'Shea/Professor/Interior Design
- Dawnmarie McDermid/Design Studio
Kean Skylands Environmental Education Campus Design
Project Description: Planning and design of a new environmental education center for Kean on the site of a State park and former monastery. Multiple new buildings, adaptive reuse of 20K sf existing building and an elevated walkway through the natural forest canopy.
