Problem Solving

Design and Problem Solving: A Design for Life
Why Focus on Problem Solving?
NDHS tries to provide students with the life-skills to tackle personal and professional issues. Often students give up when they encounter failure. We want our students to see those stumbling blocks as part of the process towards achievement. We hope that the design projects, combined with the student advisory program will help students internalize this process.

the Design Studios

The DESIGN STUDIOS create projects directly related to the school themes. Academic classes are encouraged to do the same.

Year One: Identity: Exploration
Year Two: Community: Creativity: Polarity
Year Three: Perspectives: Professionalism
Year Four: The Future: Application: Success and Failure

DESIGN at NDHS

How does DESIGN help visual learners in academic classes?
Design teaches visual learners to organize information in a visual way. NDHS students are encouraged to use calendars, colorcode information, and to make flowcharts and diagrams.

Other Ways DESIGN permeates through the school
Design also permeates the school through Arts Integration, After School Classes, and Special Programs and Events. These permutations are facilitated through our relationship with our lead cultural partner, Working Playground.

Design Program Mission

Design Mission:
The Design Program helps students to become effective problem solvers. The assignments explore themes of Identity, Community, Perspective, and the Future.

The Design Program provides students with the essential skills in Media and Communications, Architecture and Design, and Industrial Design. With this toolbox students will be able to visually communicate their ideas.

A graduate of the four-year design program can define a problem and develop a plan to propose an innovative solution. Comfortable with success and failure, graduates will be resilient through a belief in process.

The New Design High School Green CurriculumTM, promotes citizenship and ethical design.