IDM.Grow was a multidisciplinary design program based in the Integrated Digital Media department at NYU. The program explored creative responses to urban gardening challenges by supporting students in the development of technologies, products, methods, and systems for city-based growing.
Working directly with community partners, students engaged with end users to create practical, implementable designs grounded in real-world needs. The program operated across two main sites: the Urban Food Lab, located in the MakerSpace, which served as a testing ground for prototypes; and the IDM.Grow Lab, an edible garden and community-facing educational space.
The IDM.Grow Lab included a vertical garden and germination station, with produce shared among the department and local partners. In addition to hands-on design and growing, IDM.Grow offered lectures, workshops, and public programming focused on urban gardening, food access, environmental education, and agricultural innovation for the NYU Integrated Digital Media community.
IDM.GROW
Select Student Work
Helen Zhou
Computer and Data Science MajorHelen focused on developing a soil pH Degree Monitor for the IDM.GROW indoor garden.
Rebecca Levy
Sustainable Urban Environments MajorRebecca focused on developing plastic alternatives using biodegradable materials.
Katherine Yu Sun
Individualized Study majorKatherine focused on using S. Coelicolor bacteria to develop environmentally friendly fabric dyes.
Ana Vataj
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering MajorAna focused on creating a smart green house using arduino sensors.
Gbemisola Opeoluwa Shonibare
Integrated Design and Media MajorBemi explored cultivating kombucha-based bacterial cellulose as a sustainable alternative textile material.
Myra worked to develop water collection and filtration systems for the Ndor Eco Village in Ghana. She used natural materials available at the village to help create an efficient filtration and collection system. Ideally, if the model is successful, it could be used throughout neighboring villages as well.
Myra Khan
Independent Study