This year, marks the 10-year anniversary of Limbitless Solutions 麻豆精品 S� a UCF-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals through accessible technology. By engaging UCF undergraduate students from a variety of disciplines, Limbitless exemplifies the power of collaboration between science, technology, arts and humanities.
This milestone has given Limbitless cause to celebrate. The organization is hosting a 10-year anniversary gala at UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 Rosen College of Hospitality Management Oct. 17. During the event, Limbitless alumni, partners and sponsors, UCF leadership, and bionic families will walk the blue carpet, dive into interactive experiences, hear inspiring stories and explore Limbitless 麻豆精品 S� vision for the future.
Bridging Art and Technology
At the heart of Limbitless 麻豆精品 S� mission is the use of creativity to drive innovation and enhance technology, highlighting the essential role UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 College of Arts and Humanities (CAH) plays across disciplines. This philosophy was advocated by Katie Manero 麻豆精品 S�09, a graphic design alumna from UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD). She encouraged Limbitless executive director Albert Manero 麻豆精品 S�12 麻豆精品 S�14MS 麻豆精品 S�16PhD to engage the UCF arts community to enrich the organization 麻豆精品 S檚 mission.
麻豆精品 S淎t Limbitless, we 麻豆精品 S檝e seen firsthand how visual arts and design play a crucial role in driving innovation across disciplines. 麻豆精品 S� 麻豆精品 S� Matt Dombrowski 麻豆精品 S�05 麻豆精品 S�08 MFA, Limbitless Solutions creative director
One of the first individuals Manero contacted was Matt Dombrowski 麻豆精品 S�05 麻豆精品 S�08MFA, SVAD assistant director and associate professor of emerging media. In 2015, Manero sought Dombrowski 麻豆精品 S檚 assistance in recruiting student volunteers to paint Limbitless 麻豆精品 S� 3D-printed bionic arms, which the organization donates to children with limb differences. Dombrowski eagerly agreed and soon proposed an innovative concept that redefined the role of creativity at Limbitless: developing immersive video games that utilize electrical impulses from the muscles to teach kids to use their bionic arms. Since then, Dombrowski has served as the creative director at Limbitless.
麻豆精品 S淎t Limbitless, we 麻豆精品 S檝e seen firsthand how visual arts and design play a crucial role in driving innovation across disciplines, 麻豆精品 S� Dombrowski says. 麻豆精品 S淏y breaking down the silos between science, technology and visual communication, we enable creativity to be a force for positive societal change. The empathy, storytelling and human-centered design the arts bring to the table are not just complementary 麻豆精品 S� they are vital. 麻豆精品 S�
This approach not only made the learning process enjoyable for bionic kids but also fostered a sense of empowerment and confidence among the users. What once felt like a routine medical appointment transformed into an interactive and playful experience.
麻豆精品 S淥ur award-winning training games are designed to help bionic kids learn to use their prosthetics in a fun and safe environment. Creating that sense of safety is key to the successful adoption of these technologies, which could not be done without our amazing undergraduate students, 麻豆精品 S� Dombrowski says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 immensely proud of the dozens of SVAD and CAH students who have contributed not only to the development of these video games but also to the design of 3D-printed bionic arms and social advocacy. These students, now alumni, have gone on to their careers with an empathy-focused, creative mindset 麻豆精品 S� skills they honed at both SVAD and Limbitless. 麻豆精品 S�
Empowering Future Innovations
Over the past decade, dozens of arts and humanities undergraduates have played a crucial role in expanding Limbitless 麻豆精品 S� mission 麻豆精品 S� whether by designing video games, painting bionic arm sleeves, creating accessible webpages or producing engaging social media content.
One of these students was Stephanie Valderrama 麻豆精品 S�16, an alumna in graphic design, and visual arts and emerging media management, who also served as one of the first student interns at Limbitless.
麻豆精品 S淚 never felt I had to be an engineer to be part of the [Limbitless] movement. It was clear the creative side was just as needed as the engineering side, 麻豆精品 S� Valderrama says. 麻豆精品 S淎t Limbitless, I learned to put human emotions and connectivity at the forefront of what I designed. You weren 麻豆精品 S檛 just looking at a bionic arm that opened and closed; you were also looking at the design that reflected the personality of the child receiving it. 麻豆精品 S�
Valderrama now works as a senior product designer at Disney Parks and Experiences in Lake Buena Vista, where she uses user interface and user experience design (UI/UX) to create digital applications for the company.
麻豆精品 S淚 never thought I would end up here. At Limbitless, I learned I loved receiving real-life feedback, which is eventually why I transitioned to product designing. In my role now, we design something and complete user tests to evaluate the product in different environments, 麻豆精品 S� Valderrama says. 麻豆精品 S淚 never would 麻豆精品 S檝e known that was something I valued if it wasn 麻豆精品 S檛 for my experience at Limbitless. 麻豆精品 S�
Another former Limbitless intern and studio art alumna, Anna Stafford 麻豆精品 S�19, was drawn to Limbitless for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
麻豆精品 S淚t made a lot of sense to intern at Limbitless because I was able to use my skills in a professional setting alongside people who brought different skills to the table, 麻豆精品 S� Stafford says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat made me really excited because I felt there was a space for me to use the skills I felt like I had to be using, but I could use them in a way that was going to help people and directly impact the world. 麻豆精品 S�
Stafford has applied the skills she gained at Limbitless to her current position as a user experience designer at Cherry, a fintech company that serves the healthcare industry.
麻豆精品 S淭wo huge things I learned both from the College of Arts and Humanities, and Limbitless was the ability to adapt to unfamiliar environments, 麻豆精品 S� Stafford says. 麻豆精品 S淚t really has paid off for me professionally because I 麻豆精品 S檝e been able to jump into my career much more seamlessly than I thought possible. 麻豆精品 S�
CAH and SVAD are committed to supporting creatives through real-world industry experiences like those provided by Limbitless. By building on the rich history of traditional arts practices, arts and humanities disciplines prepare students to meet contemporary challenges with innovative solutions. The collaboration between UCF and Limbitless has shown numerous students the power of creativity in their work. Like Valderrama and Stafford, many UCF and Limbitless alumni are now harnessing creativity to make a positive impact.
