Design Lab creates opportunities for children and teens to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers through hands-on projects and design-thinking methodology.
Through hands-on workshops students are exposed to advanced fabrication techniques as they work to develop solutions for real-world community challenges.
In the last year, Design Lab has served more than 450 participants through partner nonprofit organizations including the King Street Center, Spaulding High School, the Governor’s Institute of Vermont, and the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program.
OUR WORKSHOPS
We offer several different workshops to accommodate groups’ different sizes, age ranges, interests, needs, timelines, and goals. All of our workshops expose youth to the design-thinking process through hands-on work and problem solving.
Examples include:
Marble Maze Challenge
Students form groups and work together to create intricate marble run models that are placed head to head competitions. Through prototyping, iterative processes, collaboration, and testing their assumptions, students are challenged to use design thinking methods to navigate the challenge. This is great for larger groups looking for activity based learning programs. We recommend starting this activity with a tour of Generator’s facilities.
Customized Laser Cut Phone Stands
Using Adobe Illustrator and the Epilog Laser Cutter, students design and print a custom phone charging stand they can use on their desk or nightstand. Students learn how to navigate the Adobe Illustrator interface, appropriately organize their artboards, and export their digital creations to fabrication. Instructors will discuss materials exploration, design choices, and how vector programs and 3D modeling intersect.
Living Hinged Design Journal
Using Adobe Illustrator and the Epilog Laser Cutter, students design and fabricate unique journals that express their personal style. Students learn universal design methods used by industry professionals to create their own logos on Adobe Illustrator. They then etch their logos into a baltic birch journal cover before adding the paper and elastic to complete their journal. The living hinge design journal is the perfect place for students to store all their future engineering and design ideas!
DESIGN LAB PARTNERSHIPS
We are grateful to our 2018 Design Lab partners who have included Dealer.com, the Winooski School District, Hunt Middle School, Spaulding High School, King Street Center, Lund Center, Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program, the Governor’s Institute of Vermont, Essex Junction Middle School, UVM’s Mansfield Hall, Spectrum Youth and Family Services, Peoples United Community Foundation and many more.