Ways to Partner With Us
From sponsored research and studios to longer-term engagements, Strategic Partnerships supports many forms of collaboration between RISD and a wide range of organizations. If you’re seeking innovative approaches to solving big, urgent problems, we invite you to explore the partnership possibilities below.
Ways to partner
Sponsored research and special projects
Offering access to fields like biomaterials, spatial audio technology and virtual textiles, sponsored research at RISD connects industry partners with faculty and students to explore creative, interdisciplinary solutions.
Special projects like the Hyundai Regeneration Studio, the Center for Complexity and the Terra Carta Design Lab facilitate high-impact research led by RISD faculty, students and alums. We also offer research tours, which provide a deeper look into the work happening at RISD and reveal opportunities for collaboration on cutting-edge projects.
Partnered studios
Our partnered studios provide external partners a platform to engage with RISD faculty and students on project-based curricula in the classroom. These studios encourage and innovation and collaboration by driving change and the exploration of new solutions alongside emerging talent.
Through collaborations with organizations such as Nike, United Nations Innovation Cell and International Flavors and Fragrances, partnered studios at RISD have produced unique learning opportunities and tangible results.
Equity-Focused Partnerships
Our partnerships advance RISD’s commitment to social equity by promoting diversity and inclusion in art, design and education. Such partnerships include the Emmett Till Memory Project, through which RISD faculty, students and alumni use art and design to engage with critical historical narratives. We also offer design labs through which our partners can engage directly with RISD-based projects and research—fostering inclusive, impactful creative work.
Artist partnerships
Through programs and public events with artists and organizations, our collaborations elevate and broaden the impact of art practice. Partnerships like those with Creative Capital and the American Academy in Rome create platforms for artistic exchange, and symposia and exhibitions offer ways to bridge art and business and drive innovation.
Tools and materials partnerships
Several of our partner organizations donate tools and materials as a way of encouraging students and faculty to push boundaries in research and creation. The contributions of companies like Lindstrom Tools and Tiffany & Co. support this effort, fostering innovation across disciplines and from studio work to interdisciplinary research. Apprenticeship programs and partnered studios also spark such innovation by allowing for the integration of new and advanced materials into student-driven projects.
Research spaces at RISD
The CfC is a platform for transdisciplinary collaboration and innovation informed by global events and creative practices, to the benefit of our community and partners.
This cross-disciplinary lab brings together a community to experiment with advanced tools and techniques through sponsored studios, peer tutoring and more.
The Nature Lab facilitates research into connections between art, design and living systems, boasting a vast speciment collection, imaging equipment and biodesign resources.