Very Big Things was honored in Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards for 2021 in the Social Good category for its work on the Dan Marino Foundation’s (DMF) online Virtual Interactive Training Agent (ViTA). ViTA is a web-based virtual reality system that helps young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities prepare for job interviews.
DMF has a long and distinguished mission of empowering individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities through life-changing programs and services. The ViTA system is a state-of-the-art training program that utilizes virtual humans and immersive scenarios to help DMF students practice the social skills necessary for employment. The ViTA system levels the playing field so everyone can be confident in achieving real-world success.
“We needed to do right by DMF’s audience and to do that, we had to break the mold and question every assumption digital product designers have,” said Chris Stegner, CEO and co-founder of Very Big Things. “We continuously asked ourselves, ‘who are we building this for, and how can we create something better than anything that had come before it?’ Filtering every decision through this question allowed our team to get into a cycle of continuous innovation and create one of the most thoughtful experiences we’ve ever had. In the end, DMF students felt empowered from their experiences with the project, and we are honored to be recognized for it by Fast Company.”
The 10th anniversary of the awards recognizes people, teams, and companies that transform businesses, organizations, and society through design. One of the most sought-after design awards in the industry, Innovation by Design is the only competition to honor creative work at the intersection of design, business, and innovation, recognizing the people, companies, and trends that have steadily advanced design to the forefront of the business conversation.
The judges include renowned designers from various disciplines, business leaders from some of the most innovative companies in the world, and Fast Company’s writers and editors. Entries are judged on the key ingredients of innovation: functionality, originality, beauty, sustainability, user insight, cultural impact, and business impact. Winners, finalists, and honorable mentions are featured online and in the October issue of Fast Company magazine on newsstands on September 28, 2021.
About FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC and our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.