Design Thinking & Innovation Challenges for Kids
We move children beyond rote learning by teaching them how to ideate, prototype, and solve real-world problems in our dedicated Maker labs.
POV: Your child is confidently presenting their team's solution to a real-world problem. This video from our Design Thinking Challenge shows students applying their learning, building public speaking skills, and collaborating effectively.
This video explains the single biggest reason your child should participate in the Design Thinking Challenge: it fundamentally transforms the way they think, fostering empathy, creativity, and data-driven decision-making.
A poster for my 'Think as You Make' Design Thinking Challenge. It outlines the two exciting challenges: 'Tower Titans' for younger kids and 'Escape Architects' for older ones, both designed to spark collaboration and ingenuity.
This dynamic video introduces the Design Thinking Challenge, inviting students to take on real-world problems, apply creative principles, and work in teams to innovate and make an impact.
This is your sign to participate in Ekya Nava's Design Thinking Challenge. The video shows teams of students deeply engaged in brainstorming and prototyping, capturing the focused energy of the event.
Coming Soon: Design Thinking Challenge. This teaser image, set against the backdrop of our Makery tool wall, builds anticipation for an event where students engage in hands-on projects to solve real-world problems.
An educator explains the value of our Design Thinking Challenge, centered on the theme of Digital Compassion. This event invites students from grades 6 to 12 to collaborate and create solutions with empathy.
A TEDx speaker explains how Design Thinking provides a methodology for addressing complex problems. This aligns perfectly with my curriculum, which equips students with critical thinking and creativity for the 21st century.
About Design Thinking & Innovation Challenges
In our Design Thinking sessions at the Panathur Makery, students do not just sit in a classroom. They work in teams of four to tackle real-world problem statements—like designing escape routes or building stable structures under a time limit—using our actual workshop tools. It is about moving from empathy and brainstorming to prototyping and testing, mirroring the actual methods professionals use to solve complex issues.
At Ekya Nava, we believe that education should prepare your child for an unpredictable future. Our Design Thinking and Innovation Challenges serve as a practical testing ground for this belief. Instead of memorizing textbooks, students are tasked with active, hands-on projects that require them to think, build, and innovate.
The 'Think as You Make' Methodology
Our challenges, such as 'Tower Titans' for younger children and 'Escape Architects' for older students, are intentionally designed to spark ingenuity. We guide children through a structured process:
- Empathize: Identifying the needs of the user or the problem at hand.
- Ideate: Brainstorming without fear of failure.
- Prototype: Using physical materials in our Makery to bring ideas to life.
- Test & Iterate: Learning that the first solution is rarely the final one.
Beyond the Classroom
This approach helps students develop critical skills like adaptability, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative teamwork. Whether they are building automated bots or designing gadgets from scratch, the goal remains the same: to turn imagination into a tangible masterpiece. We provide access to professional-grade labs, 3D printers, and woodworking tools, ensuring that the student's output is limited only by their creativity, not by a lack of resources. By participating in these challenges, children learn that complex problems are just opportunities waiting to be solved with logic and a bit of curiosity.
Ekya Nava
At Ekya Nava, we built our Makery because we saw how traditional schooling often stifles the natural curiosity children have. We are here to help your child transform from a student who absorbs information into an active builder who solves real-world problems.
Find the right learning path
Search our specific labs and workshop categories to match your child's interests.
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