Editor’s Note: Dylan Walker, digital communications specialist at IdeaBase, serves as an opinion writer for The Kent Stater and KentWired. Given his role and relationship to the story, KentWired interviewed him as a source. 

Inside of Franklin Hall, sophomore marketing major Dylan Walker is spearheading the creation of an upcoming celebratory event in honor of IdeaBase’s 10-year anniversary.

IdeaBase allows for collaboration between both Kent State organizations or external clients, like Sherwin Williams or AMETEK, Inc., with students from all majors. Students are hired by IdeaBase to perform services like photography, web development and graphic design for clients.

What started in 2009 as The Tannery, initially located in Downtown Kent, was rebranded in 2013 as IdeaBase and relocated to Kent State’s main campus in 2020.

Kristin Dowling, the director of IdeaBase, said students who are hired receive a salary from the College of Communication and Information during their semester of work. Currently, Walker is one of about 20 employees hired by the organization who are working with 17 different clients.

“I think it’s a really special place,” Walker said. “You’re extending your work outside of the university.”

Even though Walker has worked with clients to perform services driven toward the clients’ needs, now he is working on a project for the organization who hired him: IdeaBase.

After discussions between Walker and Dowling, he was able to join in December 2022 and become familiar with how the space functions. He now serves as the digital communications specialist and is using his skills to help exhibit IdeaBase.

Walker wants to grow IdeaBase’s social media presence, he said.

Dowling said Walker is a “one-man show” who naturally thought about many of the ways IdeaBase plans to celebrate their 10-year anniversary and showcase the work of the past and present, while also giving attendees a look into the future of the organization.

For the 10-year anniversary, Walker has planned some parts of the celebration. This includes bringing in alumni who were a part of the space when they attended Kent State.

Walker said IdeaBase wanted to highlight the work and stories of the alumni, specifically what they learned during their experiences there. IdeaBase also wanted to highlight how the alumni have been able to translate the skills they developed from there into their current work and occupation.

Dowling said that on top of bringing back alumni to the celebration, IdeaBase will also be hosting current and former clients.

Additionally, a video highlighting the missions and students that make up IdeaBase, along with the work that has been done by their students and clients, is currently in the making, Walker said.

“It’s [the video] a showcase of students and what IdeaBase does for students, but what students also do for IdeaBase,” Walker said. “Students are like the glue of IdeaBase; if there are no students, there is no IdeaBase.”

For Walker, he said he has enjoyed his time so far at IdeaBase and incorporating his skill sets into services for clients has all been a part of the learning experience for him.

“I have learned more from my jobs than I have in my major,” Walker said.

IdeaBase has planned for all celebratory events to take place during the 2023 fall semester. This first includes displaying the work and spreading the message of IdeaBase at Kent State’s Homecoming football game. Also, the Friday before homecoming, IdeaBase will host an open-house event inside Franklin Hall where work throughout the 10 years of the space will be put on display, Dowling said.

All dates and events are tentatively planned and not all parts of the event have been completely planned out yet, Dowling said.

“[IdeaBase] is all about elevating the work of the students,” Dowling said. “Anything we can do to showcase the work that they’ve been doing would be amazing.”

Throughout the first 10 years of IdeaBase, it has been able to expand upon its services it is able to provide to clients and give more opportunities to students. Initially, videography was not a service and now has been added, along with web design and development.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, IdeaBase adapted to new mediums, predominantly online versions that clients were requesting instead of creating physical ones, Dowling said.

With new mediums came the ability to create a new course, interdisciplinary projects, for students to enroll in that Dowling and IdeaBase assist in getting students and partners connected. The course surfaced due to the pandemic and gives students the ability to get their feet wet within the desired services, yet not endure the responsibilities of a paid job, she said.

Dowling said IdeaBase will look to continue providing students with the opportunities and experiences to help grow and expand upon students’ professional development. She said as changes occur around IdeaBase, it will look to evolve as well to keep IdeaBase going for another 10 years.

“For me I came in knowing I had a lot to do and a lot to accomplish and I’m still trying so hard to get it to where we really want it,” Walker said. “But it’s only the beginning which is really exciting.”

Anthony Zacharyasz is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].