Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Kids' building projects are smart fun for curious families.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Design Squad Nation
What's the Story?
In DESIGN SQUAD NATION, engineers Adam Vollmer and Judy Lee travel the globe to help kids make their design dreams a reality. Whether it's creating a mobile garden for teens to sell homegrown produce to restaurants or building a human-powered flying machine, there's no task too challenging for this enthusiastic pair of hosts. Each episode follows the design and building process and culminates in a public unveiling of the finished product.
Is It Any Good?
If only every TV series offered the content that's packed into this well-rounded show, which is a spin-off of Design Squad. From the obvious benefits of exposing kids to useful applications of science to strong messages about creative thinking, teamwork, and problem solving, there's no end to the positive takeaways available here. The show also reflects the shift in the traditionally white male-dominated field of engineering by casting male and female hosts and incorporating a racially diverse pool of boys and girls.
That's not to say Design Squad Nation is all about learning. There's plenty of fun to be had watching how this team brings kids' creations to life, and it's sure to spark some interesting conversations with your kids about their own inventive ideas. Add a little quality family time and some group ingenuity to the mix, and those same ideas could become fun projects for the whole family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about science. What did you learn about science from Design Squad Nation? What aspects of science are most intriguing to you? How can you use engineering principles to improve something in your life?
Kids: What is this show's message about overcoming challenges? In what areas of your life have you faced and overcome adversity? Did you have teammates or friends to help you? How does having other people around help in difficult times?
How diverse are traditionally male- or female-dominated career fields like teaching, nursing, and engineering? Are there any factors that stand in the way of increased diversity in these fields? Which careers do you think are the most open to both men and women?
How does Design Squad Nation promote curiosity and teamwork? Why are those important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 26, 2011
- Cast : Adam Vollmer , Judy Lee
- Network : PBS Kids
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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