DESIGN + BUILD

Design + Build is an AIMS program where emerging designers/builders work alongside industry professionals to bring ideas to life. Students learn the complete design process, from concept development and prototyping to fabrication and presentation, while gaining hands-on experience with woodworking, metalworking, and other fabrication techniques. Whether you're a student looking to build real-world skills, a professional interested in mentoring the next generation, or a sponsor seeking meaningful workforce development opportunities, Design + Build creates a pathway where creativity, craftsmanship, and community come together.

  • Panna Court

    Designed & built by middle school students to provide street soccer an in small space enviornment.

  • Quarter Pipe

    Designed and built by high school students to provide an indoor skating solution for rainy months.

  • Coffee + DJ Cart

    Solving organizational needs: the Coffee Cart + DJ booth.

    Summer, 2026

Design + Build is a new AIMS program that connects emerging designers and makers with industry professionals to collaboratively create functional, real-world products. Through a mentorship-based model, students engage in every stage of the design process, including research, ideation, sketching, prototyping, fabrication, testing, and presentation. Participants gain hands-on experience working alongside architects, industrial designers, fabricators, furniture makers, and other creative professionals while developing both technical and creative problem-solving skills.

The program emphasizes learning by doing. Students build tangible projects such as furniture, installations, community-centered structures, product prototypes, and other hard goods while gaining foundational skills in woodworking, metalworking, fabrication, tool safety, and workshop practices. By combining design thinking with practical construction techniques, Design + Build helps participants develop confidence, technical competency, and a deeper understanding of how ideas move from concept to reality. As part of the AIMS framework, students also build professional networks, strengthen career readiness skills, and create portfolio-quality projects that support future education and employment opportunities in design, engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and the skilled trades.