Helpers by Design: Design Thinking for Young Changemakers

Taught by Izzy Maher and Jahi Johnson

How can design make the world a more inclusive place, starting right where we are? Every great change starts with listening. True changemakers know that helping isn't about saving the day, it's about understanding others and co-creating solutions with the community around us.

In Helpers by Design, students step into the shoes of real activists and innovators. Each week begins with inspiring stories of leaders fighting for environmental justice, disability rights, and animal welfare. Through short read-alouds, media provocations, and reflective writing, students examine what it means to design with empathy.

Then, students head into the Design Lab to put human-centered design into practice. They identify real barriers in their everyday spaces, like our classroom, their homes, or their neighborhoods. Using hands-on prototyping tools, students build and test original models that make these everyday places more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive for everyone.

What Students Will Do:

• Explore Real Movements: Analyze inspiring case studies of activists across disability rights, environmentalism, and animal advocacy.

• Master Design Thinking: Practice empathy, problem definition, ideation, rapid prototyping, and user testing.

• Build Inclusive Prototypes: Create hands-on projects that make their homes, schools, and shared spaces more accessible.

• Share Their Work: Present working prototypes through short write-ups, creative presentations, or mini-exhibitions.

Prerequisites & Requirements

• Skill Level: Open to all curious minds; no prior design experience required.

• Materials Needed: All physical prototyping supplies are provided.