Reimagining History Through Design: Preserving Places and Combating Gentrification is an interdisciplinary workshop series and AR Designathon hosted by San José State University Department of Design. This vibrant, hands-on event empowers students to explore and preserve cultural heritage through Augmented Reality (AR). In collaboration with faculty, artists, urban scholars, and local organizations, participants will engage with histories of communities threatened by gentrification, transforming these stories into interactive AR experiences and typographic art. The workshop fosters inclusive, community-centered design and addresses social issues through storytelling, technology, and collaborative creativity. Participants will gain experience with participatory design methodologies, explore strategies for cultural preservation, and contribute to ongoing conversations around ethical design, gentrification, and historical memory. Following the event, students can enter a contest phase to further develop their projects, which will be judged and featured online. This initiative aligns with SJSU’s themes of Sustainable Futures and Re-Invention, offering students the opportunity to shape the future by honoring the past.

For more information please visit our wesbite: https://sites.google.com/sjsu.edu/preservingplacesdesignathon

Sponsored by the College of Humanities and the Arts Artistic Excellence Programming Grants