Two interaction design students in New York are starting a 10-week after school program that is trying to teach high school kids design skills that they can use in their communities.
Urban Omnibus talks with co-founders Carmen Dukes and Katie Koch about their project and its goals.
"Urban Omnibus: Why did you decide to work with high school students?
Katie: If you ask any designer where she first learned about design she will likely be able to recall a specific moment that opened her eyes to this world. In high school I was very much into math and science classes and engaged with art in my free time, for fun. I didn't know about design as a way to use my logical left brain and my creative right brain together to create artifacts and experiences that make people's lives clearer, easier, and more fulfilling. High school students are often investigating broad sets of interests, figuring out what their personal passions are while beginning to understand and establish their place in the bigger picture beyond school. They are at a crossroads in many ways and I imagine many would be delighted by the discovery of design just as I was.
Carmen: A knowledge of design methods is a transferable skill set. Giving students a toolkit that they can use to explore and solve problems that matter to them will be powerful no matter where their future careers lead them."
FULL STORY: Project: Interaction
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
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