Design Learning Challenges


An interactive design workshop where students and designers work together to create solutions on social impact topics.

About these activities:

Attendees work with real designers to find solutions for sustainability in this free two-hour interactive design workshop. Explore how a professional designer approaches problems, designs solutions, and find out what a career in design might look like. It’s time to unlock your creative potential—the world needs your ideas!

This workshop was developed by designExplorr, an organization devoted to helping youth find their way to creative careers. Jacinda Walker, facilitator, and founder of designExplorr, will help you design and create something from your own imagination while working with professional designers.

Don’t miss this chance to create solutions the way real designers do!

Past Challenges

Commissioned by the Youth Ministry of  Zion Pentecostal Church of Christ:
This Challenge ask the youth members of Zion Pentecostal Church of Christ to think critically about church and create solutions that focus on connections, finances and resources for the next generation of its’ members.

Developed in collaboration with San Francisco Design Week and the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco:
This Challenge ask the youth of the Boys & Girls Club to think critically about physical and emotional safety.

Developed in collaboration with the AIGA Minneapolis Chapter:
This Challenge ask the fifth grade classes at Whittier Elementary and the students at Dunwoody College to think critically about sustainability.

Wednesday, October 11th
9:30am – 12:00pm
at Whittier Elementary, 315 W 26th St, Minneapolis, MN
for all the 5th grade students (101 total)
For sponsor and transportation questions, contact Pete Rivard: education@aigaminnesota.org
For facilitator questions, contact Jacinda Walker: Jacinda@designexplorr.com
To be an adult volunteer: http://bit.ly/AIGAMNvolunteer (for non AIGA conference attendees)
Wednesday, October 11th
2:30pm – 5:00pm
for high school and college-age students

For sponsor and transportation questions, contact Pete Rivard: education@aigaminnesota.org
For facilitator questions, contact Jacinda Walker: Jacinda@designexplorr.com
To be an adult volunteer: http://bit.ly/AIGAMNvolunteer (for non AIGA conference attendees)

Hosted in Fall 2016 at Las Vegas’ Walter Bracken STEAM Academy, this workshop was developed with Playbuild:
Professional designers worked alongside 87 fourth graders to address financial literacy. Students workshopped and used design thinking, to reach a variety of solutions: from “Moneyland” and redesigning cash flows, to addressing what transactions feel like to the impaired and rethinking financial service access.