CM-You Board For the David and Susan Coulter Welcome Center

The CM-You Board is an interactive, tangible installation designed for Carnegie Mellon University’s David and Susan Coulter Welcome Center, transforming the visitor experience by fostering a deep sense of belonging between prospective students, their families, and CMU’s interdisciplinary culture. 

The Welcome Center, located in the David A. Tepper Quadrangle at Carnegie Mellon University, opened in 2018 as a destination where prospective students and their families could experience CMU’s unique culture and leave with a memorable, positive impression. As the starting point for campus tours, the Welcome Center is often the first physical interaction visitors have with the university.

However, despite its role, the space has not fully achieved its goal of emotionally connecting with visitors or conveying the university’s distinct identity. To bridge this gap, the CM-You Board was developed as an interactive installation that enhances the visitor experience.

The CM-You Board reimagines how prospective students and their families engage with the university by offering an immersive exploration of CMU’s academic programs, interdisciplinary culture, and deep ties to Pittsburgh. 

Upon arrival, visitors are invited to interact with the CM-You Board through tangible pawns representing CMU’s seven schools and key aspects of Pittsburgh. By placing a academic pawn represented by each school on the smart table, personalized content is projected, showcasing student projects, academic fields, and how various disciplines collaborate at CMU. This interactive experience allows visitors to see the real-world applications of CMU’s programs and visualize their own potential at the university. 

The CM-You Board also highlights Pittsburgh’s impact on the student experience. Visitors can use city-specific pawns to explore the connections between CMU and local industries, cultural institutions, and communities, emphasizing how the university’s location supports student growth and career opportunities. At the end of their journey, visitors receive a personalized souvenir card with tailored recommendations for further exploration at CMU and in Pittsburgh, along with a code for online engagement. 

The CM-YOU Board transforms the Coulter Welcome Center into an engaging, emotionally resonant space that better tells CMU’s story and fosters a sense of belonging, providing a new standard for university welcome experiences.