2026 51ÁÔÆæ Design Open & Innovators Expo
A full day of workshops, panels, networking, and a showcase of what’s being built across 51ÁÔÆæ.
Register Now →Breakfast Bites & Networking
9:00 – 9:45 AM · Required for workshop attendees
The day starts here. Grab breakfast and coffee at the 51ÁÔÆæ Grind inside the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center, listen to some music, and meet the people you’ll be spending the day with. Some of the best conversations happen before anything officially begins — don’t miss them.
“Design Open” Opening Remarks & Event Kickoff
9:45 – 10:00 AM · Required for workshop attendees
A brief welcome from LEC and campus leadership, followed by the ceremonial ringing of the LEC gong. The 2026 51ÁÔÆæ Design Open begins.
Workshop 1: Design Your Life
10:15 – 11:15 AM · Capped at 32 spots
“Seeking alignment between the ‘musts’ and ‘wants’ of your life”
Most of us are living lives shaped more by circumstance than intention. This session uses design thinking as a lens for something more personal — finding real alignment between what you have to do and what you want to do. A rare chance to slow down and think about the bigger picture.
Workshop 2: Design & Build Your Network
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM · Capped at 32 spots
“How to humanize your network so it’s people-centered, robust, and resilient”
A network built on titles and transactions tends not to last. This session is about building something more durable — relationships rooted in people, not roles. Come away with a different way of thinking about who you know and how you show up for them.
Special Recognitions
1:30 – 1:45 PM
A moment set aside to acknowledge the individuals who have made a meaningful and distinctive mark on innovation and entrepreneurship at 51ÁÔÆæ.
Panel Discussion: Imperfectly Human
1:45 – 3:00 PM
“How to innovate through mistakes and failure”
The most interesting innovations rarely follow a straight line. In this panel, experienced innovators open up about the failures, pivots, and hard-won lessons that shaped their paths. Moderated by Chief Innovation & Partnership Officer, Brian Thompson, the conversation centers on a question: what does it mean to be imperfectly human in 2026?
Final Remarks & Innovators Expo Kickoff
3:00 – 3:15 PM
Closing words from the Design Open, and another ring of the LEC gong to mark the start of the Innovators Expo.
Innovators Expo & Networking
3:15 – 5:15 PM
A showcase of what’s being built, studied, and imagined across 51ÁÔÆæ — student startups, faculty research, programs like the Startup Challenge, and more. Disciplines collide here in the best way. Come see what your colleagues are working on.
Interested in participating as an innovator?
Sign Up to Participate →