Design DEYS

Date started: October 2009
Date completed: Active

Background
Design DEYS is the design education for youth (K-12) initiative offered by Architecture for Humanity’s New York chapter across all five boroughs of New York City.

Architecture for Humanity New York teams volunteer design professionals with schools, educators, and non-profits interested in teaching socially responsible architecture and design. The volunteers work with the Design DEYS program director to develop customized forums where they lead students in engaging discussions and workshops geared to help them learn and understand the possibilities of architecture and the built environment.

Objectives
Design DEYS is an ongoing initiative that delivers on Architecture for Humanity New York’s commitment to youth education in our local communities. We introduce students to architecture and its ability to shape cities and influence societies, discuss notable developments in the field, and advocate sustainable, humanitarian design. Our goal is to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of designers and architects.

Workshops
Design DEYS is continually developing new workshops. The following list includes all that are currently available for educators to choose from, based on their curriculum and the education level of their students:

Workshop Grade Level Duration
1) Introduction to Architecture K-12 45 minutes to 3 hours
2) Sustainable Design K-12 45 minutes
3) Green Building K-12 45 minutes to 3 hours
4) Photographic Mapping 5th-12th Two 3-hour sessions across 2 days
5) 3-D Modeling High school 45 minutes
6) Interior Design High school 45 minutes to 3 hours

Results
1) Mad Fun Farm Workshop
Date: April 2011
Institution: Concrete Safaris
Participants: 2 volunteers and 8 students

Summary: This workshop was divided into two parts: Part one consisted of an introduction to Architecture for Humanity where students were taken through several projects, then were tasked with sketching ideas for using recycled materials; Part two focused on drafting techniques of their original designs.

2) Career Day 2011
Date: February 2011
Institution: Pratt Institute
Participants: 2 volunteers and 30 students

Summary: Students were introduced to Architecture for Humanity and were presented with various opportunities for how they could be involved.

3) Summer Internship Program Charrette
Date: July 2010
Institution: NYC School Construction Authority
Participants: 8 volunteers and 82 students

Summary: Students were introduced to the process of becoming an architect and the players involved with each project. They then worked in groups using their internship skills to conceptualize and propose an interior and exterior redesign of the East Harlem Tutorial Program (an active Architecture for Humanity New York project).

More info: http://amared.blogspot.com/2010/09/afhny-talks-sca-sip-charrette.html

4) Workshop
Date: December 2009
Institution: PS 375 (East Harlem)
Participants: 1 volunteer and 6 special education students (grades 3-5)

Summary: Students were introduced to the life of an architect and engaged in a dialogue about the imaginative worlds of Dr. Seuss, Antonio Gaudi, and Zaha Hadid.

5) Workshop
Date: November 2009
Institution: PS 261 (Boerum Hill, Brooklyn)
Participants: 1 volunteer and 22 kindergarten students studying architecture

Summary: Students were introduced to imaginative architecture of Dr. Seuss and Antonio Gaudi and were asked to draw and present their ideal home.

Special Achievements
The N.Y.C. School Construction Authority recognized Architecture for Humanity New York for their outstanding commitment to training the next generation of architects on August 13, 2010.

Related links
Design DEYS Blog: http://designdeys.posterous.com
Open Architecture Network: http://ww.openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/design-deys

Learn more on the Open Architecture Network >