Introduce your students to the power and potential of a career in design.

The Design= Curriculum Kit helps you bring design to your student group through interactive lessons. Designed for educators of all kinds—no design experience required!

One kit, infinite learning opportunities.

We’ve got your back with support for educators.

SIGN UP 
TO GET 
STARTED 
NOW!

“The kids were engaged the
entire time and you could tell they were enjoying themselves.”

Seamus | Cleveland Metro Schools

“It captivated the students! They were using many soft skills from creativity, problem solving, collaboration, and reflective thinking.”

Kenyatta | Grand Rapids Public Schools

“Not only was the content high quality but it was scaffolded. As a result, students  were challenged to think more critically.”

Cherise | Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Green Corps

“The students were really engaged and excited, they didn’t want it to end!”

Morgyn | Sunrise of Philadelphia

“It was fun, creative, high-energy, and insightful. The kids really enjoyed it.”

Erica | Art House Cleveland

“When talking with students the feedback was very positive—with questions such as can we do it again?”

Kristal | Intergenerational School

“Full of energy, hands on activities, sharing out, and videos.”

Cherilyn | Harper Woods High School

“It was perfect for the kids that I serve. This was an awesome and terrific workshop.”

LeShone | 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Introduce your students to the power and potential of a career in design.

The Design= Curriculum Kit helps you bring design to your student group through interactive lessons. Plan your program today.

100% Free for Educators

100% Free for Educators

Get access to the Design= Curriculum Kit!

📬 Know someone who could use the kit? Share with our email template or social media kit.

WHY TEACH DESIGN?

Build the critical skills your students need for the 21st century.

Design skills like creativity, innovation, complex problem-solving, and critical thinking are top skills for the future according to the World Economic Forum. Take your students on a creative problem solving journey to help them build those skills and explore creative careers that will help them learn to create the things around them.

Problem Identification

Critical Thinking

Benchmarking

Sketching

Careers

Interviewing

Ideation

Reflection

Reflection

Analysis

Portfolios

Prototyping

Research

Testing

Question Identifcation

Storyboarding

Professional Skills

Presentation Skills

Idea Refinement

Inspiration Searching

Feedback

Synthesis

Creativity

Design Process

Group Discussion

Exploration

STEM Programs
Arts Programs
College Preparation
Tech Education
Life Skills
English/Language Arts
After School Tech
Mentor Programs
Youth Enrichment Programs
Career Camps
Classroom
Community Workshops
School Clubs
Summer Programs

Teach design alongside what you DO today.

No Design Experience Required

Whether you teach 10th grade English, run an after school STEM program, or help students explore careers over the summer, the Design= Curriculum Kit can help your students build relevant skills and explore creative career paths.

Mentor Programs
Youth Enrichment Programs
Career Camps
Classroom
Community Workshops
School Clubs
Summer Programs
STEM Programs
Arts Programs
College Preparation
Tech Education
Life Skills
English/Language Arts
After School Tech
INSIDE THE KIT

Everything you need to help your students explore design.

Lesson Plans

Step-by-step guidance to help you deliver the lessons, including facilitation instructions and tips.

Slides

Google Slide decks that include visual instructions that make it easier for you to get started with the lesson.

Videos

Curated videos of professional designers speaking about their careers, pathways to design, and advice for students.

Worksheets

Editable, printable activities designed to help engage your students and guide their work.

“The kids were engaged the entire time and you could tell they were enjoying themselves.”

Seamus | Cleveland Metro Schools

“The students were really engaged and excited, they didn’t want it to end!”

Morgyn | Sunrise of Philadelphia

“Full of energy, hands on activities, sharing out, and videos.”

Cherilyn | Harper Woods High School

“It captivated the students! They were using many soft skills from creativity, problem solving, collaboration, and reflective thinking.”

Kenyatta | Grand Rapids Public Schools

“It was fun, creative, high-energy, and insightful. The kids really enjoyed it.”

Erica | Art House Cleveland

“It was perfect for the kids that I serve. This was an awesome and terrific workshop.”

LeShone | 21st Century Community Learning Centers

“Not only was the content high quality but it was scaffolded. As a result, students  were challenged to think more critically.”

Cherise | Cleveland Botanical Garden’s Green Corps

“When talking with students the feedback was very positive—with questions such as can we do it again?”

Kristal | Intergenerational School

ABOUT THE LESSONS

Take your students on a journey that starts with a challenge and ends with creative confidence.

During the 9-lesson program, students take on a design challenge and learn skills like brainstorming, creative problem solving, prototyping, interviewing, and more. The lessons scaffold their learning to help them explore the ways designers work in an approachable way.

Get to Know Your Design Mentor

In this lesson, students meet the mentor they will work with during the program during a live Q&A.

Interview Skills

Careers

Group Discussion

Note: This lesson is optional and may be skipped if you do not have a Design Mentor joining your group.

Step 1: Challenge

In this lesson, students explore the many design disciplines and begin work on their challenge by selecting the audience they plan to work with.

Problem Identification

Ideation

Sketching

Step 2: Research

In this lesson students research their challenge to uncover existing solutions and better understand the needs of the people they are designing for. Students will gather visual inspiration, conduct interviews and look at secondary sources to find inspiration for their ideas.

Interviewing

Research

Benchmarking

Inspiration Searching

Step 3: Ideation

In this lesson, students brainstorm ideas to solve their challenge, exploring many options in order to get to a great solution. Students will also work together to select the solution they want to move forward with.

Ideation

Feedback

Step 4: Prototyping

In this lesson, students will build a prototype that helps them to share and test their idea with others. Prototyping will help them work out details for their solution.

Prototyping

Interview Planning

Testing

Step 5: Iteration

In this lesson, students test their prototypes with peers to learn more about their solution. They will discuss what they learned and make improvements to their prototype.

Interviewing

Critical Thinking

Analysis

Synthesis

Step 6: Presentation

In this lesson, students will build a storyboard that helps them explain how their solution works and what makes it great.

Idea Refinement

Design Process

Storyboarding

Step 7: Reflection

In this lesson, students will reflect on what they have learned so far and consider how they might use things going forward.

Presentation Skills

Reflection

Celebration!

In this lesson, students will present their solutions and celebrate each other's hard work during the program. In addition, they will share feedback about their experience.

Reflection

Presentation Skills

Celebration

Note: This lesson is optional but highly encouraged!

CHALLENGES

UX/UI Design

Design an app that helps students learn and study.

Service Design

Redesign the lunch line at your school.

Industrial Design

Design a toy or game to help build friendships.

Interior Design/Architecture

Redesign a space in your school to improve mental health.

Fashion Design

Design shoes your favorite superhero can use for work.

Visual Design

Design a poster to take a stand on a social issue.

Supercharge your teaching with robust support for educators.

Join an engaged community of educators.

We’re excited to introduce you to the other educators and program leaders working with youth. Our online community is a space for tactical support, community building, and joy.

Match your group with a design mentor.

If you’d like one, we’ll do our best to find a professional designer who can join your group for some or all of your program and bring their expertise to your students.

Get training that helps you feel like an expert.

Through video lessons full of tips and lesson walkthroughs, we’ll share everything you need to know to facilitate lessons with confidence.

Use materials designed with educators like you.

We’ve worked with educators through the curriculum development process to make sure materials, lesson plans, and activities work both for students and the educators like you that lead them.

Meet the coalition powering the Design= Curriculum Kit.

Diversify by Design (D×D) is working to build a diverse and inclusive design profession, which requires support along a designer's journey—including at the very beginning. We know a critical inroad can be made by introducing historically excluded youth to design.

DESIGN MENTORS

Design Mentors ENRICH THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE.

We work to match professional designers with student groups around the country to join in person or virtually (based on what works best for your group!).

Are you a professional designer? Become a Mentor

“I was fortunate as a Latinx youth to be exposed to design when I was 14 years old. This education allowed me to see myself in a career that I didn’t think was possible. It’s very important to me to pay this forward and spark that curiosity in Black, Latinx, and Indigenous youth. Seeing the students come alive while exploring design thinking methodologies was very rewarding, and I look forward to participating in future DxD sessions.”

Chantel P., Designer at Amazon

“I really enjoyed this experience, and it was simply the fact that I’ve been able to be a part of these kids’ design journey, even if my individual contribution was so small or indirect. But after I’ve seen what other designers like me are doing to contribute, I can see that my participation is part of a larger whole that has a huge impact, which feels awesome to be a part of.”

Alex M., Designer at Amazon

← JOIN JESSIE AS A MENTOR

Become a Design Mentor and help students on their design journey.

We help match professional designers to educators and their student groups around the country. Become a mentor in your own community or join a classroom remotely.

STILL NOT SURE IF IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU?

Try Out Our Intro Lesson Today

Submit your email for your free 60-minute lesson!

By clicking Notify Me you're confirming that you agree with our Terms of Service.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
LET'S CHAT

We CAN HELP you make a plan for your students.

Schedule a call with us to talk about how to get started.
Like the curriculum kit, it's free!

📬 Know someone who could use the kit? Share with our email template or social media kit.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY
IN COLLABORATION WITH
Interested in joining us as a partner? Learn more about what our partnerships look like.

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Join our newsletter to stay up to date on features and releases.
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Typefaces on this site are Martin by Vocaltype and Albert Sans by Andreas Rasmussen.