2022 LSU Gumbo - Book - Page 171
Creative minds that reside on LSU’s campus have a new
organization dedicated to promoting and celebrating their
work.
While LSU is constantly focused on athletic and
agricultural achievements, a group of LSU students eager
to highlight the creative talent on campus formed the
art collective, Project Innovate Studios. Founded and
directed by construction management sophomore, Zahir
Muhammad, the team is determined to make a creative
impact on LSU’s campus that will remain long after they
graduate.
“I feel like we have a lot of creativity at LSU, but we don’t
have an organization that binds it all together,” Muhammad
said.
“LSU has done a good job at housing creatives, giving us
a space to meet and connect, which is essential to be able
to develop ideas into something tangible. But I think it
can do a bit better in terms of giving a platform to portray
creativity on a wider scale.”
Muhammad and four other initial committee members
formed Project Innovate Studios to become the space and
blueprint that inspires creatives at LSU.
“We want them to see Project Innovate Studios as a
tangible option that students can be a part of for years to
come,” Muhammad expressed.
On Friday, the committee held a photoshoot that will
serve as the face of Project Innovate Studios. The shoot will
be released as a magazine during the first week of February,
in preparation for the Project Innovate Fashion Experience
that will take place on March 27.
“The Fashion Experience is really going to be the big
boom of this all,” Muhammad said. “The point of it being
called an experience and not a show is because art can
be portrayed in a variety of ways. Whether that’s through
music, clothes or poetry, we want to make it an experience
and not necessarily a traditional fashion show.”
There are currently 14 committee members, 12 of which
are current or past LSU students.
“Our committee members come from different
backgrounds,” Muhammad said. “We all have individual
styles, but we are one community. We wanted to portray
that in today’s shoot.”
Kennedy Cook, a nursing major, was one of the
founding members of Project Innovate Studios.
“Zahir and I are both sophomores, so it’s really
empowering being younger than others and taking on this
incredible task,” Cook said.
“It’s been amazing learning from everyone on the
committee and seeing all the creativity LSU students have
to offer.”
Ugo Njoku, a psychology and sociology senior, and
Project Innovate committee member, is also ready to
inspire younger LSU students—something he feels he
missed out on.
“When I first got to LSU, the creative bubble that there
is now didn’t exist,” he reflected. “Which is why I’m so
delighted to have Project Innovate Studios and The Social
Boot. I always say we are on this earth for two reasons: To
create and To experience. So it’s great to see my motivation
in life come to fruition.”
The first set of limited tickets for the Project Innovate
Fashion Experience will be released at the end of next
week at a discounted price. The large-ticket drop will
coincide with the magazine release date during the
first week of February. VIP tickets will be available for
purchase.
Follow Project Innovate Studios on Instagram:
@projectinnovatestudios
Photos by Matthew Perschall
171