Raising awareness of the discipline of Industrial Design among high school students is a big challenge. Most high school students don't know about the importance of industrial design and have few opportunities to be exposed to the field.  Yet those  who eventually join the discipline become loyal advocates. In order to bring knowledge of industrial design to younger students, the IDSA Atlanta Chapter recently engaged in the design of a new, innovative model for outreach to high schools.

Now in its third consecutive year, the outreach effort brings together IDSA Atlanta, The Home Depot, the Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design, the Coca-Cola Company and Design Within Reach for a week-long charrette event.

The program was launched September 18th, with students from Grady and Frederick Douglass high schools and their parents. Design professionals, college students and high school students were brought together to conduct a real-life experience project. This year, Home Depot's sponsorship enabled the design and prototyping a LED lighting device. Fifteen teams consisting of one professional, two academic students and three or four  high school students will have 2 1/2 weeks to design, develop and deliver a prototype lighting device along with a do-it-yourself manual.  The manual will be an important feature, as the designs will be advertised in the do-it-yourself Home Depot site for the general public to replicate. In addition, results from the program will be exhibited at the Design Within Reach Atlanta store on October 5th at 7pm and at the Home Depot Atlanta Showroom during the month of October.

According to School of Industrial Design Prof. Claudia Rebola, such community outreach is an essential part of the Institute's service mission to the state of Georgia, and helps steer design-minded students toward admission to Georgia Tech.