BLUElab Metro

Project Leader(s):
Rania Uppal (raniau@umich.edu)
Mobin Mazloomian (mobin@umich.edu)
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Project Location(s): Greater Detroit Area, Michigan

Current Focus: This year we are planning on following the University's Carbon Neutrality Report to take up a recommended project and pioneer a way for student orgs to have a measurable impact on the University's climate goals. We're also continuing work with MSSI (Mobile Support Services Initiative) to repurpose retired Ann Arbor transit buses for multipurpose resource distribution in the county. Additionally, we are in the beginning phases of planning with MECCA Development Corporation to create a resource hub in Detroit that will provide overall support for the surrounding neighborhoods.

Mission: Our mission is to co-design technology to address community identified needs, amplifying the voices of community members that are most impacted by systemic local shortcomings. As a multidisciplinary student-run design team, we focus on sustainable, socially-engaged designs created through strong community partnerships, empowering the people that we work with.

Team Goals: BLUEM focuses first on co-design through cooperation with our community partners in all projects. To do this, we follow the fundamentals of socially-engaged design: an iterative process where community members are at the center of the decision-making, problem identification, and development of solutions. To maximize the effectiveness and impact of our work, we incorporate the environmental, human, social, and economic aspects of sustainability. Using these techniques lead to designs with greater contextual awareness and a greater chance of long-term success.


For updates on BLUElab Metro Project, follow them on Twitter and Instagram, or visit their website!