How Can You Use the Design Process to Solve a Problem?

School Programs Design Process poster for the 2012-2013 school year.

Download the poster
(PDF)

The National Building Museum provides pre- and post-visit lesson plans and resources like this classroom poster for many of our school programs. In our school programs students use the design proces to solve problems. Follow along with the images in the poster as students plan and build a city.

Invite your class to use the design process to improve their immediate world. Brainstorm as a class or in small groups about things that could be improved. Use the design process to solve one of those problems.

Here are a few suggestions:

• In your classroom, how can you make your desks more functional?
• In your school building, what do you do with leftover food in the cafeteria?
• On your school grounds, how can you create more places to sit?
• In your neighborhood, how can you slow down drivers near the school?