Dr. Seth Orsborn
Director
Dr. Seth Orsborn is an interdisciplinary designer and loves the challenge of wrestling with an ambiguous world to identify unique opportunities which can be solved by creating products that are beautiful, functional, and desirable. Seth is also the director of and teaches courses in Product Design and Innovation at SMU. In addition to problem solving with the students, staff, and faculty of SMU, you can find him mentoring start-ups and advising innovation teams. If he’s not there, he’s probably chasing chickens around his property or trying to keep up with the chores on his pecan orchard.
JT Ringer
Lab Manager
JT is a human-centered designer with a background in theater design and technology. Before joining the DIG, he spent 16 years making props for theater, opera, and dance productions. In addition to managing the DIG, JT teaches Form and Composition in the Master of Arts in Design and Innovation program at SMU. JT enjoys woodworking, road trips, and spoiling his two Very Bad Cats™, Penny and Charlie.
Sithindu Sirisooriya
Assistant MANAGER
Sithindu is a senior majoring in computer science with a minor in Chinese. His most notable passion is tinkering. He also has a yet-unexplained affinity for mowing lawns. He will mow any lawn, but there is always a price to pay. He’s like a landscaping witch.
Feel free to ask him anything, but be forewarned he will likely tell you he doesn’t know at first.
It is very likely that he is at the DIG right now, staring into space, trying to remember which certifications are real and which ones are fake.
Michael Afework
LAB TECHNICIAN
Michael is a Freshman Mechanical Engineering and Applied Math pre-major who wants to build cars, planes, and/or buildings. Michael likes building. If he’s not at the DIG he’s sleeping (he’s not good at sleeping).
ABIGAIL BLEDSOE
LAB TECHNICIAN
Abigail is a Sophomore majoring in voice and minoring in German. She loves fine arts and has a passion for making and altering her own clothes. When she isn't holed up in a practice room in the Meadows basement, she can usually be spotted hunched over a sewing machine in the DIG. If you have any questions about sewing, she'd be more than happy to talk your ear off.
ALYSSA BURNETT
Lab Technician
Alyssa is a junior majoring in Creative Computing and Psychology. She enjoys working with the 3D-printers and laser cutter, and is always happy to work with you on any project or problem you may need help with! (just give her 5-7 business days for the bigger projects.)
Quinn Caceres
LAB TECHNICIAN
Quinn is a freshman studying Biochemistry. Quinn's specialty is creating whatever weirdly specific item they or their friends think of. You can most often find them making things on the 3D printers, creating new designs to test on the vinyl cutter, or trying to convince a friend to come to the DIG more often.
JOHANNA GULLIKSSON
LAB TECHNICIAN
Johanna is a junior studying Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Math and chemistry. Outside of class, she's Scribe for Theta Tau and plays tennis. She's a big extrovert so don't be scared to start a conversation even if you don't know her. If you don't see her in the DIG, look again.
Allison hart
Lab Technician
Allison is a junior double-majoring in studio art and creative computing, and she’s all about turning wild ideas into real things. She's especially into sculpture and woodworking—if it involves tools, textures, or making a big creative mess, she’s probably already on it. You'll usually find her chatting about the latest projects happening at the Dig, brainstorming new ideas, or helping troubleshoot when things get tricky. She's also a big fan of chit chatting—so whether you're stuck on a project or just want to talk about your latest hyperfixation, she's all ears (seriously, anything goes)!
CASE HOOGLAND
Lab Technician
Case is a sixth year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a Specification in Biomedical Engineering and History. He is the Outer Guard of Theta Tau and Historian of the Classical Studies Club. He specializes in Woodshop and the traditional side of the Metalshop (Blacksmithing). If you see him doing something potentially dangerous, please don’t copy him… he is the embodiment of chaos.
Jon Moore
lab technician
Jon is a senior studying civil engineering. His specialties include wood and metal working. He is a proud cat dad and fills his spare time working on fabrication projects at home or at the DIG.
Tami Olujobi
lab technician
Tami is a Junior majoring in Economics and minoring in Graphic Design. She has a passion for the fiber arts such as sewing, knitting, crocheting and machine knitting. Her favorite machines so far are the vinyl cutter and the sewing machines. In her spare time she is usually hanging out with friends, making clothes or planning what clothes to make next.
kristian perez
lab technician
Kristian is a freshman Biomedical Engineering Pre-major. His favorite machines are the vinyl cutter and 3D printers. Outside of the DIG, he is wherever his friends drag him to (he doesn’t ask questions). His dream is to become a prosthetists and make artificial limbs for children.
Diyaa Shah
lab technician
Diyaa is a sophomore studying Mechanical Engineering with a dream of going into product design. She’ll be dragging all her friends to the DIG, so expect to see her there! However, if you don’t spot her, she’s probably lounging around in her commons. And if she’s not doing either of those things, she’s most likely looking for her phone…again.
sarah tadesse
lab technician
Sarah is…
nicole tarrol
lab technician
Nicole is a freshman majoring in computer science. Whenever she has the chance, she’ll find some way to bring some humor in life. Otherwise, assume to find her doing some handy work on whatever she has going on next.
REY WINN
Lab Technician
Rey is a junior year music and physics major that doesn’t like free time. If they’re not on the clock, they’re working on their next large project which will take more time than they care to admit.
“Philander and Discover” - Rey
JORDAN YOUNG
Lab Technician
Jordan is a senior with a major in creative writing and minors in computer engineering and business. Her DIG specialties are sewing, vinyl cutting, and laser cutting. When she isn't holed up in the DIG, she likes to draw, write (obviously), play video games, and cook for the people she loves. A certified chatterbox, she loves to talk with people about their latest interest or lifelong passions.
She continues to have an obsession with birds, especially corvids.
If you want to join our team, fill out this application and email us to let us know.