Herberger Institute Day 2025: A celebration of creativity and collaboration
Herberger Institute Day attendees dance during the Block Party. Photo by Laura Segall.
Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts hosted its annual Herberger Institute Day on March 4, 2025, bringing together more than 700 faculty, staff and students for a day of immersive learning, collaboration and creative exploration. The Institute also welcomed members of the ASU community and 165 prospective high school students from Chandler Unified School District for this event. More than 70 workshops, performances and interactive experiences invited participants to explore artistic innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.
“My first Herberger Institute Day was a terrific experience,” said Renée Cheng, dean of the Herberger Institute Dean and ASU senior vice provost. “The day is a reflection of the incredibly vibrant community across the Institute, and I'm inspired by how focused we all are — students, faculty and staff — on having a positive impact on the world.”
The day began with a vibrant block party, setting an energetic tone for the festivities. Attendees enjoyed a free meal, live DJ performances and interactive games. “There was a lot of good music, a lot of people up and dancing,” said music performance major GianCarlo Lay. “I even did some dancing myself — it was tons of fun.”
“Herberger Institute Day has been one of my favorite days at ASU,” said Melita Belgrave, associate dean for culture and access at the Herberger Institute. “I really enjoy having a day where we celebrate joy in design and the arts. I enjoy seeing people engaged in design and art making experiences — and of course, the vibe that is the Block Party.”
Following the block party, attendees participated in workshops covering topics from digital media and storytelling to visual arts and performance.
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Herberger Institute Day guests were asked to share what brings them joy.
Photo by Laura Segall.
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The Herberger Institute Day Block Party featured one of the Institute’s faculty members as a live DJ.
Photo by Laura Segall.
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In the Guitar Hero Experience workshop at Herberger Institute, guests interacted and played with an instrument built from a guitar hero game controller and learned about the importance of real-time object oriented programming, interface design and sound design.
Photo by Laura Segall.
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The Musical Bravery workshop at Herberger Institute Day asked participants to focus on the positives and reduce stress through a series of musical improvisations. Attendees had the opportunity to be artistically brave in a supportive environment.
Photo by Laura Segall.
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Two students showcase their choreography during the Herberger Institute Day Block Party.
Photo by Emily Hanaoka.
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The Block Party at Herberger Institute Day featured a community meal and activities, including painting.
Photo by Emily Hanaoka.
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Participants in the Introduction to Screenprinting workshop work on their designs.
Photo by Emily Hanaoka.
One notable workshop encouraged participants to reflect on the significance of art in their lives and translate their responses into movement. “We were asked why the arts are important to us,” Lay said. “I believe art transcends language barriers, allowing free and expressive communication. We highlighted key words from our responses and created movements based on them — it was a really cool experience.”
The event also emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students from various majors to connect and share experiences. Theater acting and digital marketing major Nya Salahdeen appreciated the opportunity to engage with peers from different disciplines. “As a theater acting major, I don’t really get to spend a lot of time with dance majors,” she said, “so it was really exciting to branch out and meet so many people.”
Throughout the day, workshops, discussions and performances reinforced the importance of hands-on creative exploration. Lay said future attendees should focus on select workshops to maximize the benefit. “Pick a few workshops you want to do and really focus on them rather than trying to do everything,” he said. “You’ll get more out of it if you take the time to connect with the people there.”
Reflecting on the experience, Salahdeen expressed her enthusiasm: “I would most 100% recommend Herberger Institute Day because it is just so big—an explosion of creativity all in one day.”
For more information on upcoming Herberger Institute events, visit the Herberger Institute's events page.