Cutler, K., & Silvernagel, C., & Letcher, T. (2022, August), Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between  Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40574

\bibitem{asee_peer_40574}
  Cutler, K., \& Silvernagel, C., \& Letcher, T. (2022, August), \emph{Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between}
  Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Minneapolis, MN.
  10.18260/1-2--40574

Kay Cutler, Craig Silvernagel, and Todd Letcher.  "Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between".  2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN, 2022, August.  ASEE Conferences, 2022.  https://peer.asee.org/40574 Internet.  12 Mar, 2025

\bibitem{asee_peer_40574}
  Kay Cutler, Craig Silvernagel, and Todd Letcher.
  "Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between".
  \emph{2022 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition, Minneapolis, MN, 2022, August}.
  ASEE Conferences, 2022.
  https://peer.asee.org/40574 Internet.  12 Mar, 2025

@INPROCEEDINGS{asee_peer_40574
author = "Kay Cutler, Craig Silvernagel, and Todd Letcher"
title = "Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between"
booktitle = "2022 ASEE Annual Conference \& Exposition"
year = "2022"
month = "August"
address = "Minneapolis, MN"
publisher = "ASEE Conferences"
note = {https://peer.asee.org/40574}
number = {10.18260/1-2--40574}
}

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Abstract

What are the elements of an optimal space in-between for cross-disciplinary design teams?  Specifically, how does the development of high-quality soft skills, such as openness to perspective-taking, openness to failure, healthy problem-solving approaches, a growth mindset, a strong sense of agency, healthy curiosity/creativity, and an openness to a culture of inquiry by building shared meaning impact the design experience of cross-disciplinary teams’ work? Deleuze and Guatarri [1] identify the ‘space in-between’ as a place where teammates negotiate shared goals and understandings. A healthy space-in-between lays the foundation for effective experiences that inclusively value multiple perspectives while fostering group and individual agency. This paper shares insights from undergraduate student experiences in a multi-disciplinary design project and the influences an optimal space-in-between has on innovative design education.

Our focused analysis highlights initial findings from an eight-week, intensely iterative, cross-disciplinary design experience (completed in Spring 2021) of a three-year project. The project’s aim is to create and commercialize Lunar Life: Designation Mars, an interactive “Moon to Mars” traveling exhibit designed for children’s museums and smaller science centers. During this process, undergraduates from mechanical engineering, entrepreneurial studies, interior design, and early childhood education completed pre- & post- surveys measuring the soft skills mentioned above. In addition, students completed weekly mind-maps measuring their current state of mind regarding the design process. Finally, there were self-reflections at four milestones during the eight-week process focus on the space-in between qualities of movement, experimentation, lines of flight and sense of stuck-ness.

AU  - Kay Cutler
AU  - Craig Silvernagel
AU  - Todd Letcher
CY  - Minneapolis, MN
DA  - 2022/08/23
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Work-in-Progress:  The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/40574
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--40574
ER  -