University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The Grainger College of Engineering
Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Program

People Designing for People (SCD) Camp

Camp is FULL for Summer 2024.
Application is OPEN for Summer 2024. Register Now.
Application is CLOSED for Summer 2024.
This is an INVITE-ONLY camp.
Application is TBA for Summer 2024. Check back soon.

Age Group: 10th - 12th

Cost

  • Residential: $1,000
  • Commuter:
  • Virtual:
  • Day Camp: $550 (housing not provided)

Category: 3-D Sessions

Dates:

  • June 17 - 21 (no camp June 19)
  • June 9 - 15 (R)

Residence Hall:

Scholarships: Yes, see details No

Campers posing for a photo with trees in the background
PDP 2022 campers and counselor on the quad

Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a problem-solving approach that uses design thinking tools to first explore and define problems, then develop and sustain innovative and meaningful solutions. People Designing for People is an in-person camp that will take place at the Siebel Center for Design (SCD) and will immerse learners in hands-on, authentic HCD experiences in engineering. During the camp, learners will collaborate to brainstorm a solution to their design task, iterate a physical prototype, and present their work to peers and instructors. Learners will have the opportunity to work with physical materials and tools in the new SCD workshop as they create and refine their prototypes. Instructors will support learners throughout the process and encourage them to seek constructive feedback from peers as they iterate their designs.

Campers will:

  • Use human-centered design as an approach to creative problem-solving
  • Practice employing design thinking tools to identify and understand user needs
  • Work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams
  • Create physical prototypes and provide constructive feedback

Note: The Jun 17-21 session is a daycamp. Camp session will not take place on June 19th in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday. 

Testimonial

Campers sitting in a lecture room
PDP 2022 campers attending a design lecture

Staff

Brian Guerrero is a post doc taking the role of K-12 Lead at the Siebel Center for Design (SCD). Graduating from the College of Education at the University of Illinois, Brian focused on researching the connections between video games and learning. He believes that through video games, individuals can develop autonomy and motivation towards new subjects using the mechanics, narratives and communities that games have been designed around. Using Minecraft as a vehicle for education, Brian worked on developing interest, knowledge, and skills around topics such as astronomy, computer science and data science. Within his thesis, Brian Guerrero looked at the role of collaboration within Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games groups, by analyzing the types of communication and tools employed by groups with varying levels of experience. He believes that through communication strategies and tools, less experienced groups can develop more effective solutions through methods that parallel the Human Centered Design (HCD) process. Currently he is working closely with educational organizations in Chicago to integrate more HCD into school curriculum to help with the development of 21st century skills.

Saadeddine Shehab is currently the associate director of the assessment and research team at the Siebel Center for Design (SCD) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He works with a group of wonderful and talented people at SCD’s Assessment and Research Laboratory to conduct research that informs and evaluates the practice of teaching and learning human-centered design in formal and informal learning environments. His research focuses on studying students’ collaborative problem-solving processes and the role of the teacher in facilitating these processes in STEM classrooms.

Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions