WELCOME TO GLOBAL FUTURES!
THE MISSION: A COMMUNITY CENTER, REIMAGINED
Your team is about to set off on a quest to research, design, and build a model of a new community center based on the needs of the local community, its culture, and a healthy dose of creativity.
Choose your hometown, allowing students an opportunity to learn about and become even more active members of their own community. Or your class can choose instead to take the global pathway and explore somewhere else in the world!
GLOBAL FUTURES DESIGN LAB
a community-centered design project and showcase for students
The Global Futures Design Lab is an interdisciplinary team-based challenge that connects students to the world around them. With the 3DuxDesign 4-step design thinking process and modeling materials, students explore and celebrate culture, community and the environment as they collaborate to design and build solutions to real world problems. A culminating interactive Student Showcase empowers students with a platform to communicate, collaborate, and take an active role in changing the world for the better.
- About
- Imagine
- Design
- Build
- Share
- What's Included?
About the Program
3Dux Global Futures Design Lab is an industry-leading challenge-based program. Student teams tackle real-world problems using the design thinking process and 3DuxDesign architectural modeling system. Projects culminate in a final presentation and may be featured on our Global Student Showcase offering youth the perfect platform to share their ideas with a global audience.
Flexible Program Model for Live and remote Learning:
Designed to seamlessly transition between remote and live settings, Individual Travel Kits allow students to continue the project wherever they are.
Optional "Side Quest" Extensions:
Add-on features include optional Side Quests for students wishing to take a deeper dive into high interest disciplines or for educators to incorporate more standards-aligned academic skills and rigor into the program. Our growing list of Side Quests are detailed based on the project phase and include:
Tiny Town Challenge - Students grades 4-6 learn geometry and financial literacy as they design structures with efficiency of space and cost in mind (design phase)
Sustainable Futures - Students grades 3+ learn about electricity, circuits and renewable energy sources as the bring their designs to life using 21st century innovative sources like LED lights, solar panels and wind turbines. (design phase)
Drafting in 3D - Future engineers, architects, and designers learn the basics of scale, perspective, 3D drafting and shading with. Ideal for grades 4+ (design phase)
Art and Architecture - Students have an to opportunity share their own culture with the 3DuxGlobal community by incorporating local architects' and artists' work into their design. Take a deeper dive into art history as students explore local designers of past or modern culture by researching current trends(design phase).
Picture Perfect - Students learn from the pros how to create beautiful photos with a smart phone. Learn about best angles, backdrops, and how to create lighting with easily accessible tools. (presentation phase).
Make it a Movie - Students have an opportunity to bring their presentation to the next level and show off their theatrical talents. This tutorial will offer some fun high tech and low tech options. Explore ideas from ranging from acting and puppetry, to green screen or time lapse. (presentation phase).
The Imagination Phase
Presented with a real world challenge, student teams begin the ideation process by first defining the problem, gaining a deeper understanding of the situation, and developing empathy for the stakeholders through research, interviews and exploring their own experiences.
Once they feel equipped to take on the challenge, student begin to explore all possible solutions—no dream is too big when it comes to making the impossible possible.
Imagine Phase Side Quests:
Tiny Town Challenge - Students explore the unique features of the geography, climate, local materials and unique cultures of their community as they prepare for urban expansion. Grades 4-6 learn geometry and financial literacy as they design structures with efficiency of space and cost in mind.
Designing Peace - Students explore the beauty and challenges of differences within communities as they design a community center with a goal to celebrate diversity.
Design a Landmark - Students research national landmarks and blend that knowledge with their own understanding of the features and needs of their own community to design and build a landmark for generations to come.
Design a Zoo - Students of all ages learn about animals and their natural habitats as they design a zoo that's as much fun for the animals as it is for the visitors! Simple machines in every enclosure. Engineers, this is the project for you!
Multigenerational Maker Space - Students grades 3+ venture out into the community to research special skills and needs of each generation. They use the design thinking process to build a maker space that connects makers of all ages.
The Design Phase
Now it’s time for teams to put their ideas to the test. Evaluating options based on their practicality and efficiency in students’ respective communities, each team prepares to pitch its solutions to the group and work collaboratively to home in on a concentrated and cohesive design.
Through the design thinking process, students engage in critical problem solving, creativity, communication and collaboration. Teams pool their combined creativity to put forward the best proposal they can.
Side Quests
Tiny Town Challenge - With this standards-aligned printable lesson plan, students in grades 4-6 will learn how to calculate surface area as it relates to the cost of building materials and volume as they work to balance benefits of more space with cost. Expect this geometry-packed side quest to extend the length of your program by 3-5 hours.
Sustainable Futures - Students grades 3+ learn about electricity, circuits and renewable energy sources as they bring their designs to life using 21st century innovative sources like LED lights, solar panels and wind turbines. *additional materials needed for this will be available at checkout.
Drafting in 3D - Future engineers, architects, and designers learn the basics of scale, perspective, 3D drafting on isometric graph paper and shading for adding depth to drawing. This side quest may extend your program 2-3 hours and is Ideal for grades 4+.
Art and Architecture - Students have an opportunity to share their own culture with the 3DuxGlobal community by incorporating local architects' and artists' work into their design. Take a deeper dive into art history as students explore local designers of past or modern culture by researching current trends.
The Build-out
Art, engineering, empathy and logic intersect as teams construct real 3-dimensional prototypes of designs using the 3DuxDesign architectural modeling system and accessories.
Curious and ambitious students can engage in additional interdisciplinary Side Quests to explore a range of concentrations from geometry to engineering, sustainable design to social equity. No challenge is too big for our young innovators!
Creating a Presentation
Teams gather from around the world in a virtual celebration of building a better tomorrow. Students share their projects on the 3DuxGlobal Student Showcase, trade ideas offer feedback with their peers, transcending physical boundaries and learning about other’s cultures directly from the children that live there.
Standout projects will be eligible for a Gold Star and be presented for the world to see on the 3DuxGlobal Live Interactive Map.
Side Quests
Picture Perfect - Students learn from the pros how to create beautiful photos with a smart phone. Learn about best angles, backdrops, and how to create lighting with easily accessible tools already available on your space.
Make it a Movie - Students have an opportunity to bring their presentation to the next level and show off their theatrical talents. This tutorial will offer some fun high tech and low tech options. Explore ideas from ranging from acting and puppetry, to green screen or time lapse.
Individualized Packs for 1-2 students
Perfect for live, remote AND hybrid learning environments
Everything students need for building their projects
- exclusive 3DuxDesign travel backpack
- over 50 geometric cardboard shapes
- 45 assorted 3DuxDesign connectors
- 24" string
- 2 straws
- 2 metal fasteners
- 2 pompoms
- 2 pipe cleaners
- 1 animal figurine
- downloadable student worksheets
Get Started Now
Team Set
Save 10% with 12 students
All the materials you need for 12 students
individual material packs for up to 12 students plus FREE facilitator kit*
one year access to facilitator guide for one educator
customized Student Showcase webpage
13 all-access passes to 3Dux Global Student Showcases
13 all-access passes to 3DuxU lessons and design challenges
* For teams with more than 12 students, purchase one extra kit per extra student
$25.19
Classroom Set
Save 15% with 25 students
Plus FREE facilitator kit
individual material packs for up to 25 students and 2 facilitators *
one year access to facilitator guide for 2 educators
2 custom Student Showcase webpages
26 all-access passes to 3Dux Global Student Showcases
26 all-access passes to 3DuxU lessons and design challenges
* For classes with more than 25 students, purchase one extra kit per extra student
$23.80
School Package
Save 20% with 200 students
Plus 8 FREE facilitators kits
individual material packs for 200 students and 8 facilitators *
one year access to facilitator guide for 8 educators
8 custom Student Showcase webpages
208 all-access passes to 3Dux Global Student Showcases
208 all-access passes to 3DuxU lessons and design challenges
* For more than 250 students, purchase one extra kit per extra student
$22.39