Innovation is more than a buzzword; it’s a continuous, often messy, process of building, iterating, and dreaming of what's "Next." This core belief is at the heart of the University of Cincinnati's 1819 Innovation Hub, a vibrant ecosystem where groundbreaking ideas become tangible realities. For over 200 years, UC has been a research pioneer and is recognized as a Carnegie R1 research institution, with more than 360,000 alumni who have contributed inventions ranging from the world’s first electronic organ and the Easy-Bake Oven to the Golden Gate Bridge and NASA’s logo design. The 1819 Innovation Hub serves as a home base, linking students, researchers, and businesspeople to continue this legacy and inspire the next generation of innovators.
The University of Cincinnati leadership team wanted to capture this essence in a way that would celebrate UC's rich history and inspire its future. This project was especially meaningful for Hyperquake’s Experience team, as it was led by three proud UC alumni, each with a deep-seated appreciation for the university's legacy.
- Tyler Rice, Creative Director of Experiences, graduated from UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) in 2011.
- Hayley Hinshaw, Senior Experience Designer, graduated from DAAP in 2021.
- Luke Sheridan, a current Experience Design Intern, is a Communication Design DAAP student on track to graduate in 2026.
This unique connection allowed us to not only understand the UC team’s vision on a professional level but also to embrace the deep history of ingenuity that is part of the University of Cincinnati experience.
The Hall of Fame Mural: A Visual Story of Innovation
The Hall of Fame mural visually documents UC's innovative history, emphasizing the motto "Where Next Happens" to inspire future breakthroughs. "We wanted to create something that would make our alumni feel proud and inspire visitors to say, 'Wow, I had no idea all of this came from UC'," says Tony Almaguer, the Chief of Staff in the Office of Innovation at the 1819 Innovation Hub.
To celebrate the process of innovation, the mural’s design itself had to speak to the journey. Our approach was a deliberate blend of raw and refined elements—pure geometry, rough shapes, illustrated doodles, and finished designs—all coming together to communicate that a brilliant idea often starts with a single, messy spark. The recurring word "Next" woven into the design is a powerful statement, reinforcing the idea that innovation is never complete. There is always the next idea, the next discovery, the next breakthrough.
Among the many inventions and innovators featured on the mural are some you may know and others that might surprise you:
- Allbirds — Co-Founder, Tim Brown
- Apple’s First Mouse — Designer, Douglas Dayton
- Benadryl — Inventor, George Rieveschl Jr.
- Easy-Bake Oven — Inventor, Ronald Howes Sr.
- FedEx Logomark — Designer, John Lutz
- First Man on the Moon — Neil Armstrong, Engineering Prof.
- Fitbit Fitness Tracker — Lead Research Scientist, Logan Niehaus
- Golden Gate Bridge — Chief Engineer, Joseph B. Strauss
- Intel Pentium Chip — Developer, Vinod Dham
- Mantei Center — Architect, Michael Graves
- Tide Pods — Product & Packaging Design, Various Graduates
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