Innovation By Design Award

Overview

Texas A&M University’s pioneering, high-impact research into understanding, detecting and treating neurodegenerative diseases like dementia is nearing breakthroughs to help millions of people — and has earned Texas A&M recognition in Fast Company’s 2026 Innovation by Design Awards.

The award recognizes design-driven solutions across industries, including health and sustainability. The honor places Texas A&M among a select group of innovators whose work is shaping the future. Texas A&M joins industry leaders and household names like Adidas, Coca-Cola, Google and The North Face on the list. Texas A&M will be formally recognized during the 2026 Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City.

Read the full story

Messaging

Big Idea

Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards recognize nearly 300 honorees across categories such as health, sustainability and user experience. This honor reflects Texas A&M’s continued focus on research that addresses real-world needs — combining breakthroughs in innovation and design to improve people’s health and quality of life.

Amplify the Message

• Announce Texas A&M’s Fast Company recognition, showcasing how Aggie innovation in health, the Dementia & Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI).
• Share visuals and quotes from leading Texas A&M Health faculty to highlight the team behind this innovation.
• Feature the story as proof of Texas A&M’s dedication to research that matters — tag the university and research teams.
• Integrate the achievement into local news, blogs, or social media updates, connecting it to Texas A&M’s broader impact in healthcare and beyond.
• Encourage engagement by inviting audiences to learn more, share the news, or thank the scientists involved.
• Highlight students, faculty or staff involved in these programs and initiatives on your channels.

Sample Copy Blocks

Short (X/Twitter)

• Texas A&M has been recognized for innovation that makes a difference by @FastCompany for the second year in a row!
• Texas A&M makes @FastCompany’s list of top innovators worldwide — again! The (college/unit) is leading innovation through (program) that is building a brighter, safer world.
• For the second consecutive year, Texas A&M University is recognized for innovation that makes a difference — learn how [TAG CEHD] is working to contribute to innovation for good.

Medium (LinkedIn/Facebook)

• Texas A&M University is honored to be recognized by Fast Company for the second straight year for innovation that makes a difference. This recognition highlights our commitment to public service, ensuring that research breakthroughs strengthen the health of communities across Texas, the nation and beyond.
• For the second year in a row, [TAG Fast Company] has recognized Texas A&M University for innovation that makes a difference.
  
  Texas A&M’s commitment to public service ensures that research breakthroughs strengthen the health of communities across Texas, the nation and beyond.
  
  Led by Dr. Mark Benden and supported through Texas A&M’s Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI), the digital human is an empathetically designed virtual agent that uses artificial intelligence to help detect early signs of dementia through conversational screening, speech cues, facial expression analysis and biometric monitoring — helping bridge critical gaps in access to care for rural and underserved communities. The innovation earned Texas A&M national recognition as a 2026 Fast Company Innovation by Design honoree.
• For the second year in a row, Fast Company has recognized Texas A&M University for innovation that makes a difference.
  
  This year’s recognition highlights a breakthrough in early dementia detection: an AI-powered Digital Human designed to help identify early signs of dementia through conversational screening, speech cues, facial expression analysis and biometric monitoring. Led by Dr. Mark Benden and supported through Texas A&M’s Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI), the empathetically designed virtual agent helps bridge critical gaps in access to care for rural and underserved communities.
  
  This innovation reflects Texas A&M’s commitment to public service and to strengthening the health of communities across Texas, the nation and beyond.

Email/app callout or blurb

Texas A&M University was awarded a Fast Company Innovation by Design honor for the second year in a row. The honor places Texas A&M among a select group of innovators whose work is shaping the future. Joining Texas A&M are Adidas, Coca-Cola, Google and The North Face. Texas A&M will be formally recognized during the 2026 Fast Company Innovation Festival in New York City.

Calls to Action (CTAs)

• Read the full story about Texas A&M’s recognition by Fast Company
• Learn more about Texas A&M’s Health Dementia and Alzheimer’s Research Initiative (DARI)
• Join the Aggie community in celebrating this achievement

Maximize Your Content’s Impact

SEO involves more than just using keywords. It’s also important to include links to relevant resources, such as the Innovation by Design press release on the Stories site or the research article featuring Dr. Mark Benden’s lab and innovation. Use these templates and keywords for your own departmental, program or other connections to the award. Additionally, try to anticipate common questions that users might have and answer them directly on your page. For example:

• Why did Texas A&M receive the Innovation by Design designation?
• How does research from Texas A&M fuel innovation?
• Who are [Texas A&M] experts on dementia?
• How does early dementia detection work?
• What is innovative about [COLLEGE/SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT/DIVISION]?

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