Program Overview
Design The Future is an immersive design-thinking experience where students practice empathy, problem framing, ideation, prototyping, and iteration. With partner facilitation from Design Tech High School, students engage in two build challenges inside the Design Realization Garage — culminating in prototypes and short reflection videos they are proud to share.
- Two physical prototypes (one redesign + one open-build)
- One short vertical video (30–60 seconds) explaining the problem, solution, and learning
- Optional photo documentation for classroom or school showcase
Quick Facts
- Grades
- 6–12 (adaptable for 4–5)
- Duration
- ~3–3.5 hours
- Group size
- 25–80 students
- Facilitation
- Co-led with d.tech
- Teams
- 3–5 students
Timing and structure can be adapted to fit your bell schedule.
Built with Design Tech High School
d.tech is a free public charter school in Redwood City, CA, where design thinking and real-world learning are woven through everything students do. The Design Realization Garage — an 8,000-square-foot maker space — is where FieldTrip students prototype, test ideas, and build creative confidence alongside d.tech facilitators.
- Laser cutters, 3D printers, and rapid prototyping materials
- Woodworking, electronics, and digital design tools
- Award-winning robotics program rooted in the same maker culture
- Every 9th grader learns maker skills in the DRG — now your students can too
Learning Goals
Design Mindset
- Practice empathy-driven problem solving
- Reframe challenges into opportunities
- Iterate based on feedback
Future-Ready Skills
- Collaboration and communication
- Rapid prototyping and testing
- Creative confidence
Student Agency
- Ownership of ideas
- Building confidence through creating
- Seeing themselves as designers
Run of Show
- Welcome + design thinking kickoff
- Snack break
- Activity 1: Redesign a school essential
- Giveaway moment
- Activity 2: Open build (design anything)
- Snack break
- Student video reflection
- Share-out, reflection, closing giveaway
Activities
Activity 1: Redesign Challenge
Students redesign a common school item (such as a backpack, pencil pouch, or shoes) to solve a real student need.
- Empathy interview
- Problem definition
- Sketching and prototyping
- Mini share-out
Activity 2: Open Build
Teams choose a problem they care about and prototype a solution using physical and digital tools, including optional 3D printing.
- Ideation and decision-making
- Building and testing
- Iteration
Video Reflection (No Worksheets)
Instead of written worksheets, students record a short video reflection describing their problem, prototype, and what they learned. This creates authentic evidence of learning while reinforcing communication skills and confidence through creating.
Reflection Prompts
- What problem did you solve?
- What changed from your first idea?
- What feedback helped you improve?
Privacy-Friendly Options
- Film prototypes instead of faces
- Videos remain internal by default
- Public sharing only with permission
Help us launch Design The Future
This experience is fundraising now. Your gift or sponsorship removes barriers for schools that cannot fund transportation, materials, and facilitation on their own — and puts real design-thinking in front of students who rarely get a maker-space day like this.
Transportation & access
Bus grants and subsidies so distance and cost never block a school from participating.
Materials & tools
Prototyping supplies, giveaways, and DRG-ready build kits for every student team.
d.tech facilitation
Partner educators who co-lead the experience and bring the Design Realization Garage to life.
Launch & scale
Program development so Design The Future can reach more campuses across the Bay Area and beyond.
We didn’t just make something — we had to explain why it mattered. Recording the video made me realize I actually understood the design process.
— Jordan, 8th grader
FAQ
Is this aligned to school standards?
Yes. The program supports project-based learning, collaboration, communication, and applied STEM skills while emphasizing confidence-building through creating.
What if we have limited time?
The experience can be shortened or expanded based on your schedule and student needs.
Do students need devices?
One device per team is ideal for video reflection, but the program can adapt if needed.
How can my organization sponsor a trip?
Sponsors can fund a full school visit, underwrite transportation for underserved campuses, or support the program launch. Visit our sponsors page or donate directly — we’ll recognize partners who make these trips possible.
Bring Design The Future to your school
Request a date
Share your grade level, estimated student count, and preferred dates — we’ll coordinate with d.tech and follow up to plan your FieldTrip.
Bring FieldTrip to my schoolDonate or sponsor
Donations fund transportation, materials, facilitation, and student resources so more kids can build the future.
Donate / become a sponsorCorporate & foundation partners
Align your brand with design education, workforce readiness, and unforgettable student impact. See sponsorship tiers and benefits.
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