The Alumni Association of The University of Michigan Center

Client: The Alumni Association of The University of Michigan (Jack Porter)
Summary: For three and a half years, we have partnered with the Alumni Association of The University of Michigan (AAUM), Integrated Design Solutions (IDS), and various stakeholders to bring the history, values, achievements, and vision of the Association to life. The Alumni Center (AC) serves as the connection, the home, and hub of an international organization with over 620,000 alumni. A few objectives arose again and again in our conversations: this is a place to inspire pride, celebrate alumni,  invite nostalgia, and encourage connection.. In addition to linking alumni to current students, the Alumni Center acts as the front door to the post-graduate experience by kicking off a campus tour or being a meeting point for campus events. As such, we had many stories to cover in a relatively small, historically notable building. We worked with IDS to transform key spaces into living experiences, honoring the architecture of the building, while allowing for depth of content.

The previously enclosed lower level offers a 2-story tall volume crowned by an “Hail to the Victors” audio wave inspired, sculptural wooden wall visible through every entry. The wall comes to life with projected lights— a data-driven art piece reflective of the breadth and depth of the alumni network. Pulling data from the alumni database, users can explore time, growth of the network, expanse of the network, fun facts tied to graduation years, and more. This “wow wall” as it has been known among our collaborative teams, offers a one of a kind experience where users can search for themselves and each other, sign a guestbook, draw on the wall, update their profiles, and reconnect via AAUM’s networking systems. While this experience captures the big picture as well as the individual’s statistical experience, nearby experiences capture what it means to be a part of the Alumni Association; bringing diversity and equity to the University through scholarship; the story of the building and organization values; major donor recognition; and, of course, the pride U- M takes in of its alumni. Let’s begin with the canvas created to tell stories: the Immersion Room. 

What used to be an under-utilized yearbook room has been transformed into a circular immersive experience. Step inside for a motion activated welcome video, followed by a menu of videos capturing the essence of the organization. The beauty of this space is that it will be able to transform into whatever stories AAUM desires, so what may live there today may be different next Homecoming. The ability to stay fresh, invite social interaction, and transform was key to all designs.

Previously exterior walls, a new glass vestibule is flanked by sunny nooks. The side nearest to the Immersion Room hosts a display dedicated to student stories; presently it shares the connection between alumni-funded scholarships and some of the recipients. On the opposite side, million+ donors are recognized in simple but beautiful glass, striped proudly with Maize and Blue. Across from the windows, near the donor recognition, is a series of glass, wood, and digital panels featuring the story of the home of the Alumni Association among current events and additional lists. This “welcome wall,” as we have called it, is visible from the exterior. The glass and wood elements throughout the space connect the permanent and changeable elements. 

Down the impressive spiral stairwell, you’ll find a wall that celebrates U-M’s diverse and accomplished alumni body..From Nobel Prize winners to the top achievers and innovators across a multitude of fields, the “Pride Display” captures some of the Leaders and Best from Michigan. The display, layered in multiple depths, appears permanent but is fully updatable, leaving room to add stories from the next generation of alumni. Nearby, in the conference rooms, tonal murals mimic the dot patterns of the Network Wall. Their tonality allows their presence to subtly add meaning to the themed rooms, accented by bright photographic art prints and colorful finishes in the furniture and carpet. Our goal was to build identity in the spaces (“Meet me at the Camp Michigania room”) while complimenting the building experience as a whole.

It was a pleasure and an honor to work with such an incredible organization; to help create a destination celebrating their achievements; and to design the tools for them to grow and celebrate the next generation of incredible alumni of the University of Michigan.

Roles: Creative direction, lead designer, UX and UI design
Collaborators: 
Danny Stemann, creative director
Grace German, project director
Trey Sloan, sr. production manager
Nat Shane, sr. production designer
Theresa Marchi, graphic designer
Fred Blevins, sr. production manager

IDS, architecture and interiors