Design=

A comprehensive and free educational program that introduces design, creative problem-solving, and career pathways to youth (grades 6-12) in marginalized communities.

Over 2,300 students and 200 educators have participated in Design= to date.

After participating in Design=, over 92% of students are more interested in Design

Over 90% of educator and student participants recommend Design=

PROGRAM GOALS

Exploring the potential of creative careers.

Design= is focused on increasing awareness of design as a career path by equipping educators and students with free resources, training, engaging mentorship opportunities, and access to career development.

CURRICULUM KIT

Resources to enable design in any classroom.

At the heart of the program is the Design= Curriculum Kit, a robust toolkit created in collaboration with educators and designers that includes adaptable lesson plans, worksheets, and videos to introduce design into any classroom setting (no prior experience required).

BEYOND THE CURRICULUM

Programs to immerse students in design.

The program provides educator trainings and immersive, hands-on learning experiences for students that include mentorship sessions, project critiques, career exploration, and field trips with professional designers, building students' creative confidence, critical thinking skills, and real-world career readiness.

RESULTS

Celebrating over 2300 students reached.

Since October 2021, over 2,300 students, 200 educators, and 60 design mentors have participated in Design=. We’ve been to 14 cities across the U.S., including Akron, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.

Get started with the Design= Curriculum Kit

Whether you're an experienced designer or a classroom educator, our curriculum kit is designed to help you engage students and introduce them to world of design.

Explore the Kit

What teachers and students are saying about Design=

“The students were happy down to their cores (well fed emotionally & physically) after participating in a semester-long design program, culminating in a field trip that encouraged students to think and collaborate like professional designers. I do hope that our diverse mix of students heard the message that they too are worthy as designers of the future.”

Jasmine

High School Film Teacher
Los Angeles, CA

“Collaborating with Design=, from the introduction workshop, to the visit from a working designer who mentored my students, to the feedback they received on their artwork from a panel of designers, my experience as an educator was transformative.”

Rachel

High School Art Teacher
Chicago, IL

“I never thought about design as a career. It never came up, even in school. I think I’ll be much more interested in design or coming up with my own stuff. I just know that design will now become a very big part of my life.”

Renee

YWCA Student Participant
Washington, DC

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

Marcus

Middle School Principal
Grand Rapids, MI

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