Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)’s Post

Should You Involve Kids in the Design Process? When designing a home, especially shared family spaces or kids’ rooms, involving children in the process can be surprisingly rewarding. Here’s why it might be worth including their perspectives: 1. Ownership & Responsibility: Allowing kids to participate in design decisions—like choosing colors or decor for their room—builds a sense of ownership. This can lead to better care of their space as they feel it truly belongs to them. 2. Creativity & Self-Expression: Kids bring a fresh perspective! Their natural creativity often leads to fun, unexpected ideas that can add personality to a space. Simple choices like a favorite color or theme encourage them to express their individuality. 3. Confidence & Decision-Making: By offering choices within a curated range, you give kids a voice while teaching them decision-making skills. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn how to balance preferences with practical needs. 4. Connection & Bonding: Involving kids in design becomes a collaborative family experience, creating memories and fostering a shared connection to the home. While their involvement should be guided, a little input can go a long way toward making a space both functional and truly meaningful for everyone!

How to Create Future-Ready Maker Spaces for Students Discover strategies to design flexible and adaptable maker spaces that prepare students for unknown careers. Learn how to incorporate utility and limit structural components to allow for shape-shifting environments. Explore various types of maker spaces influenced by geographical aspects. Alli Privitt, M.A., Peter Hostrawser #MakerSpaces #FutureReadyEducation #FlexibleLearningEnvironments #AdaptableSpaces #DesigningForTheFuture #StudentPreparation #GeographicalInfluence #CreativeLearning #InnovativeEducation #CareerReadiness

My second year of design school was packed full of lessons. It taught me how to manage my time, where to focus my energy, and a ton of skills I never thought I'd learn. Most importantly, a round of applause for this one, people: I had only a couple of all-nighters! A huge improvement from last year. 👏 You might remember the exact moment you learned some of these lessons back in the day, or you might just be getting started on your design journey, either way, this one’s for you. Here are the 12  things I learned during my second year of design school... 1. You have to be the one to set deadlines and requirements for yourself 2. Work hard enough and the opportunities start to come looking for you 3. A few extra points aren't worth killing yourself over 4. If you feel overwhelmed by your own design, it might be a sign to simplify 5. No design project, done the right way, is ever done alone     6. Always talk to the people you're designing for 7. The quicker you start, the faster it'll be over 8. You're not supposed to learn everything all at once 9. Putting effort into your relationships with others pays off 10. Just because you change directions doesn't mean you're behind 11. Stop letting people be too soft on you 12. Betting on yourself is one of the best things you can do 💡I go into a lot more detail in the article on my blog, which is linked in the comments. Check it out if you're curious.💡 I'm about halfway done with my design education and I'm looking forward to the things I'll learn in the future. So now that you've heard from me, I'd like to hear from you. What are some things of the biggest things you learned in design school that still help you out today? Let me know below 👇 I'll be taking notes! ✍️🤓 - 👋 I'm Rebecca Scarbrough, an Industrial Design student at Georgia Tech and the Founder of Design Does That, a blog dedicated to observing the field of design from a student's perspective Follow me if you'd like to tag along throughout my design school experience! Let's go on this journey together 🌱💪 #industrialdesign #designer #designersoflinkedin #designstudents #womenindesign #designschool #designeducation

How research fueled our victory: The Engineers Without Borders Competition 2012 Let's talk about the importance of research in design, and how, from my own experience, it can take good ideas to great ones. Many of you won't know this about me, but I was an Industrial Product Designer in a past life. In 2012, my team and I participated in the Engineers Without Borders competition which I'm proud to say that we won. Our design wasn't groundbreaking, but our commitment to research is what truly set it apart. The brief focused on the importance of play in early childhood development in East Timor. Our task was to create a playground to support this crucial aspect. 🔍 Key findings from our research: Cultural connection: We discovered a local myth, 'The Good Crocodile,' inspiring us to shape the playground like a crocodile. Sustainable materials: Bamboo was abundant locally, so we used it to make the playground sustainable and accessible. Community engagement: We learned about local needs and play preferences, ensuring our playground was meaningful and enjoyable. Land use understanding: Respecting the local Fugal land system, we designed a modular playground that they could be built where they saw fit. Skills development: We created LEGO-style instructions, empowering locals to build the playground themselves, minimising costs, and teaching new techniques. Safety and Inclusivity: We ensured the playground was safe for all children, including those with disabilities. While research on materials, tensile strengths, and construction techniques was vital, understanding local culture and people truly set us apart. This experience underscored a critical lesson for me: Research is the cornerstone of impactful design. It transforms good ideas into great solutions that are culturally relevant, sustainable, and deeply connected to the people they serve. So here's to the power of research and the incredible journey it leads us on! I'd love to hear your stories of an unexpected insight that research has uncovered for you, taking your work in new directions. Share them in the comments 👇 #DesignThinking #ResearchMatters #userresearh #research #design #productdesign #SustainableDesign #CulturalRelevance

🔹 Discover how thoughtful space design can make a powerful impact! 🔹 In today’s competitive education landscape, schools are finding that an inspiring, student-centered environment can play a big role in attracting and retaining families. Robert Dillon shares insights on how design choices like flexible seating, natural lighting, and collaborative areas create spaces where students thrive. 🔗Read more here: https://lnkd.in/guDneBtk

Is designing a playground simple? Not quite! In our latest video, we explore the myths around playground design—especially when it comes to inclusivity. Is it really more expensive to build for everyone? The answer might surprise you. Tune in to learn: 🔹 The real challenges behind inclusive design 🔹 Why accessibility doesn’t have to break the bank 🔹 How thoughtful planning benefits entire communities Watch now and join the conversation on creating spaces where everyone can play! #PlaygroundDesign #InclusivePlay #Qatarliving

Design is all around us and it shapes our world in ways we may not even realize. From the apps we use to the doorknobs we turn, design plays a crucial role in our daily lives. In honor of World Design Day, let's take a moment to appreciate the impact of good design. Sir Don Norman, a design legend, once created a door with no handle! ♀️ Good design considers how we use things. Have you ever been impacted by the power of good design? Share your story! On the other hand, have you ever been annoyed by bad design? How would you fix it? Let's start a conversation about how design can make the world a better place. Join me in celebrating World Design Day and share your thoughts on how design makes a difference. #WorldDesignDay #Design #Designers

The Curb-Cut Effect: Designing for Accessibility Benefits Everyone 🚶♂️🚴♀️♿ Ever notice how small, thoughtful design changes created for one group often end up helping others too? This is what we call the Curb-Cut Effect 🌟. Originally designed for wheelchair users, curb cuts (the small ramps between sidewalks and streets) have become a universal design solution that benefits: 👶 Parents with strollers ✈️ Travelers with luggage 🚴 Cyclists 📦 Delivery workers with carts …and many more! This goes to show that designing for accessibility doesn’t just serve one community—it enhances the experience for everyone 🌍. 🔍 Here are a few ways to apply this principle in design: 1️⃣ Universal Design: Create solutions that accommodate a wide range of abilities. 2️⃣ Empathy First: Think beyond your immediate user base—how could your design assist others in unexpected ways? 3️⃣ Long-Term Impact: Small accessibility improvements can have a positive ripple effect, making your design more user-friendly for all. At #Maddotsdesignstudio, we believe that designing with accessibility in mind leads to a more inclusive, user-centred world 🌐. Every project we take on is rooted in the idea that good design empowers. Let’s make the world more accessible—one small curb cut at a time 💡. What’s your favourite example of accessible design benefiting everyone? Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #UniversalDesign #UXDesign #EmpathyInDesign #DesignForAll #Maddotsdesignstudio

Accessibility is not only about disabilities.

Simple understanding users needs :)