Ferris State and KCAD showcasing innovation and programs at Tech Week Grand Rapids 2024

Tech Week Grand Rapids returns for its third year on September 16-21, 2024, featuring more than 70 independently hosted events throughout the region.

Ferris State University and KCAD are looking forward to Tech Week Grand Rapids Sept. 16-21.

Following the success of its first two years, Tech Week Grand Rapids is designed to showcase the region’s vibrant tech community and is expected to host 15,000 attendees for a wide range of events and programming.

Ferris State University is excited to take part in the week-long celebration of technology and innovation through a series of expert panels, student showcases, and Tech Week’s capstone experience, Confluence Festival.

Ferris State faculty and students will participate in the Student Tech Showcase on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Kent Career Technical Center, an all-day event focused on strengthening our region’s future tech talent pipeline. The interactive showcase will feature hands-on tech exhibits designed to expose students to careers in technology.

"We are thrilled to contribute our expertise and creativity to this community-wide event," said Tara McCrackin, president if Ferris State’s Kendall College of Art and Design. "It is a great opportunity to showcase how students and faculty at Ferris State and KCAD are at the forefront of innovative practices and cutting-edge technology across disciplines."

On Wednesday, Sept. 18, Ferris State will host five Tech Week sessions at KCAD in Grand Rapids, covering a range of innovative topics:

• Deepfakes: The Threat Is Deep but It Isn’t Fake, 1-1:45 p.m., a holistic view of the cybersecurity threat of deepfake technology.
• The Relentless Pursuit of Securing the AI Borderless Walls, 2-2:45 p.m., a big-picture view of the AI and cybersecurity threat landscape, and the challenges of building a viable workforce to address these threats.  
• Drug Discovery: Innovation by Design, 3-4:30 p.m., learn how strategic innovation at Ferris State’s College of Pharmacy has established a cutting-edge drug discovery laboratory focusing on novel antibiotic, antineoplastic, and anti-Alzheimer agents.
• AI and Machine Learning in Architecture Education, 5-6 p.m., explore the transformative potential of AI and machine learning in architecture through hands-on demonstrations and collaborative discussions focused on how these technologies enhance creativity, efficiency, and precision in the design process.
• AI & Prompt Engineering,  6-7 p.m., explore how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing introductory programming courses for Mechanical Engineering Technology students by enabling "prompt engineering" to generate and refine code, easing the learning curve of syntax while focusing on problem-solving skills. 

On Sept. 18 from 7-8:30 p.m., Ferris State’s KCAD will co-host Next-Gen Creativity: AI in Art, Design, and Media, a panel event exploring AI’s impact on creativity and addressing ethical concerns of the creative community. KCAD alumni Piper Adonya ('18, BFA Digital Art and Design) and Jarran Fountain ('23, BFA Collaborative Design) bring their expertise to the panel, with Fountain moderating the discussion in his role as Lions & Rabbits Programming Director.

In addition, KCAD President Tara McCrackin will speak as part of the Tech Talks: Design & Innovation event on Sept. 19 from 3-5 p.m., featuring multiple lightning talks on Human-Centered Design, Creativity in Tech, AI Trends, and more.

The Right Place is the proud organizer of Tech Week Grand Rapids, working in partnership with business and community leaders to make the event a leading destination for tech and innovation.

The event is guided by an advisory board of more than 35 community leaders, with Bank of America providing support as the Premier Sponsor. The Tech Week GR Advisory Board, led by Co-Chairs Dr. Philomena Mantella of Grand Valley State University, Jason Joseph of Corewell Health, and Mark Johnson of Michigan Software Labs, guides the content of the week, establishes annual goals, enhances user experience, and strengthens the region's tech ecosystem.

The full schedule and event registration for Tech Week Grand Rapids 2024 is available at techweekgr.com.

KCAD Product Design Professor and Program Chair Phil Renato at KCAD's Maker Expo Booth at Confluence Festival alongside Product Design alum Caleb Voisine-Addis. 

The Ferris State and KCAD community will also take part in the Confluence Festival on Sept. 20-21, an immersive celebration of innovation across art, music, science, and technology in downtown Grand Rapids.

At the opening night party on Friday, Sept. 20, KCAD Product Design Professor Phil Renato will offer live demos of innovative art-making techniques, while students from the Pamella Roland DeVos School of Fashion will show off their original tech-forward garment designs. The free all-ages event will kick off at 6 p.m. at Rosa Parks Circle.

The Confluence Maker Expo on Saturday, Sept. 21, presented by Ferris State University, will bring together a diverse array of hobbyists, engineers, artists, and organizations who create amazing things in celebration of the DIY spirit. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. makers will showcase their innovation and experimentation across the spectrum of science, engineering, and art.

Maker Expo visitors can stop by the KCAD booth to take part in an interactive demonstrations to create their own custom takeaways. 

KCAD’s Maker Expo booth will highlight its product design tools, technologies, and processes, including 3D modeling and rendering, fiber laser cutting, and more. Faculty and students will be on-site to share how they use the tools and technologies to take ideas from sketches and digital models to physical objects.

The Innovation Showcase on Sept. 21 spotlights gaming and the regional organizations that are driving it forward. This year’s Esports Expo will host eight collegiate teams, including Ferris State, and eight high school teams to compete in Super Smash Bros. tournaments. The winning team in each division will receive prizes and a custom trophy designed and produced by KCAD.  

KCAD Product Design Professor Jon Moroney showing off the custom trophy designed and produced by KCAD for the 2023 Confluence Esports Expo.

Between matches, festival attendees will be invited to play onstage and experience the full thrill of competition. The tournament and gaming experience runs Saturday, Sept 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

All events are free and open to the public. See the full lineup of Confluence events at confluencefest.com/events.