Design Squad Maker 1.0

The Design Squad Maker app is a comprehensive digital tool designed to support children’s engagement with engineering and the design process both at home and in educational maker spaces. It offers users the ability to create an unlimited number of projects, incorporating sketches, photographs, and notes to document their work. The app allows for progress to be saved within an editable portfolio, facilitating ongoing development and reflection.

Users can explore animated videos that illustrate the engineering design process, guided by a friendly host that walks them through each stage. Throughout their experience, children receive helpful tips and reflection questions aimed at enhancing their understanding and supporting their learning journey. The app also provides access to a variety of example project ideas, including suggestions for family collaborations and quick activities that can complement larger design projects at home.

Designed for versatile use, the app supports activities both independently at home and as part of broader Design Squad Maker workshops conducted across the country. Its curriculum is aligned with STEM concepts, ensuring educational relevance. The app was co-developed with input from researchers and families to promote meaningful engagement. It is free of in-app purchases and advertising, providing a safe environment for young users.

The development of the Design Squad Maker app was grounded in rigorous research, emphasizing a hands-on, open-ended approach that empowers children to lead their own learning process. This fosters problem identification rooted in real-world interests, encourages creative and critical thinking skills, provides practical experience with tools and materials, and builds resilience when faced with challenges.

About Design Squad Maker

This application was created as part of the Design Squad Maker program, which aims to involve children aged 8–11 and their caregivers in the engineering design process across various settings such as museums, community maker spaces, and homes. Participants collaboratively identify problems of interest, brainstorm solutions, develop prototypes, and test their designs—mirroring the authentic steps used by professional engineers to address real-world challenges.

Privacy

GBH Kids and Design Squad Maker are dedicated to ensuring a safe digital environment for children and families. The app collects only anonymous, aggregated analytics data solely for developmental purposes—such as understanding feature popularity—without gathering any personally identifiable information. Photos taken within the app are stored locally on the user’s device and are not transmitted or shared elsewhere. GBH Kids does not have access to these photos.

For further information on the privacy policies of Design Squad Maker, please visit https://pbskids.org/designsquad/blog/design-squad-maker.

Funders and Credits

© 2022 WGBH Educational Foundation. This project is produced by GBH Boston in collaboration with the New York Hall of Science. All trademarks and logos associated with Design Squad Maker are owned by WGBH Educational Foundation.

This initiative has been supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1811457. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation.