Day of Design (K–12)
Day of Design offers free, open-source curriculum resources and hands-on design activities for all classrooms.
About
Day of Design teaches pK-12 learners the skills they need to solve complex open-ended problems while also considering user, social, and environmental needs. Inspired by Day of AI and Day of Climate, it is a new collaborative effort by MAD and the WPS Institute, with support from the MIT pK-12 Initiative.
Designed collaboratively with feedback from teachers, these interdisciplinary resources are grounded in themes across science, humanities, art, engineering, and other subject areas, aimed to assist educators regardless of their experience with design and making.
Activities are scaffolded and serve as “grammar lessons” for design education, including classroom-ready slides, handouts, tutorial videos, and facilitation tips supporting 21st century mindsets. All materials will be shared online, enabling educators to use the content as-is, or modify it as needed for their classrooms and other informal learning settings.
Day of Design also features signature events and a yearly, real-world challenge bringing design skills together.
What does Day of Design include?
- Resources guiding students and teachers through 50-110 minute sessions focused on a specific design skill and a theme inspired by MIT research chosen to spark students’ curiosity.
- Ongoing partnerships with community organizations, including makerspace networks like Fab Lab, to support in-person engagement
- Professional development supporting teachers in incorporating Day of Design materials into their classrooms
In-person engagements
- On September 25, 2025 at the MIT Museum, a kick-off event Day of Design: Connect brought educators and designers together through panels and workshops to learn why design matters.
- In summer/fall 2026, we will covene to celebrate and share outcomes of the Day of Design initiative with global design leaders and educators.
Who can use these resources?
- Educators looking for ready-to-use design and making activities that align with their subject area.
- Students interested in problem-solving, creativity, and working with their hands.
- Schools and districts seeking new ways to engage learners through interdisciplinary, project-based learning.
- Community partners interested in supporting local youth with tools and space to create.
Resources
Cosmic Comfort Workshop
Exploring ideation and prototyping through space habitation, inspired by MIT’s Space Architectures class
Level Up Workshop
Practicing iteration by reimagining classic games, developed in connection with the MIT Museum’s Design Redefined series
Ice Cream Workshop
Exploring research and accessibility through everyday design challenges, created by Scot Osterweil, Creative Director at the MIT Education Arcade and inspired by research at the MIT Game Lab on the power of play and iteration in learning
Feedback
We value your feedback! Please email us at dayofdesign[a]mit.edu to share your thoughts.