KidsThinkDesign
By Leslie Crenna,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Budding designers explore creative fields, get inspired.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this website.
Videos and Photos
KidsThinkDesign
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
The site is broken down into sections: fashion, graphics, interiors, books, products, film and theater, architecture, animation, and environmental design. They're all introduced through informational snippets such as the functional design of chairs, the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, DKNY runway stills, Spider-Man costume concepts, and Pixar animator biographies. Each design category is accompanied by a list of related sites and books, a couple DIY projects, and the opportunity to submit an original design idea.
Is It Any Good?
KidsThinkDesign brings together a tasteful and well-rounded set of ideas and resources to evoke thought and creativity in kids and teens. As you would expect, the design is bold and simple, yet relatively full of concrete facts and concepts designed to ignite imagination and inspire thought. DIY projects may not be plentiful, but they're detailed and interesting and include creating a word cloud, assembling a skyscraper, or developing a land-use plan. Each comes with a list of needed supplies and equipment, which could include sophisticated items such as portfolio paper, mannequins, scoring tools, linoleum blocks, and design templates, as well as good ol' pens and pencils. The range of disciplines covers so many aspects of modern life, there's truly something for everyone here.
The host, Kids Design Collaborative, is clearly devoted to its mission of connecting kids with creative professionals, inspiring future designers, and promoting design thinking. That said, although one of the stated functions of the site is to periodically feature kid-submitted designs, there aren't any on the site. That's disappointing, but we hope this submitting, sharing, and showcasing element will expand and evolve, making the site more attractive to the next generation of budding designers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Watch one of the slide shows together, then take a look at your home or a local site to see how it compares. For instance, compare the chairs in your house to the wacky but high-design chairs in the Interior Design slide show. What's more important: form or function?
Discuss architecture projects your kids have already created or wish to create (maybe a perfect room or house?) and consider submitting a design.
Website Details
- Subjects: Social Studies: cultural understanding, exploration, global awareness, historical figures, history, timelines, Arts: drawing, film, painting, Hobbies: building, fashion
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, asking questions, collecting data, decision-making, part-whole relationships, Creativity: combining knowledge, imagination, innovation, making new creations, Self-Direction: effort, personal growth, Communication: multiple forms of expression, presenting
- Genre: Educational
- Pricing structure: Free
- Last updated: March 9, 2020
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Our Editors Recommend
Kids' Hobbies Websites
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate