From our research, design education is not accessible to many students before college, and our survey participants who are interested in visual arts and design wish they could have taken design classes earlier in life. In addition, design education is beneficial for student's overall development, such as the abilities of complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
Our project is trying to bridge the gap and provide students from 11-16 years old with design materials that they can learn on their own time. Design Academy includes a variety of design lessons that have interactive elements to encourage students to find the connection between knowledge and the real world. After taking the lessons, relevant individual and team projects will be unlocked, and students can also connect with a community of young designers. UW Design made us realize the importance of critique in the design process, so the App also encourages college designers to provide feedback and spend time with the youths. Lastly, the reward system motivates students to learn. Students can level up by completing learning-related tasks and receive profile frames as rewards.
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