April 24, 2026The Design Studio: Where Ideas Take Shape

At Aberdeen Hall, the Design Studio offers students a dedicated space for personalized and experiential learning. It is a place where ideas move from concept to creation through robotics, art, graphics, 3D modelling, and video production. Here, students discover that design thinking grows through a continuous cycle of building prototypes, testing, and reflection - learning by doing in the truest sense.

When Making Brings Meaning

Sometimes the smallest questions spark the biggest ideas. In the early years, Grade 3 students studying Haida art traditions transformed their classroom drawings into wooden pendants using the laser cutter. Longtime ADST teacher Ms. Shari Tambasco scanned the students’ designs, converted them into digital files, and guided each student as they carved their artwork into wood. The result was more than a craft - it was an authentic, tangible connection to the culture and visual language they had studied, bringing meaning and pride to each creation.

Deeper Learning Through Iteration and Reflection

By the time students reach Grade 8, projects are increasingly student-driven. In Robotics, a group of students embarked on building an arcade-style claw machine. What began with sketches, awkward prototypes, and coding experiments evolved through problem-solving and critical reflection. Students even considered intentionally incorporating small “flaws” into their design, inspired by their experience playing claw machines. Through trial and error, collaboration, and conversation, their ideas slowly took shape. 

Designing for the Real World

Experiential learning becomes even more impactful in the Senior School. Earlier this year, we realized the Outdoor Learning Area, our dedicated forested space on campus, was in need of a sign. What began as a simple facilities request evolved into an authentic design project. Rather than outsourcing the work, the task was brought into Media Design 12, where Grade 12 student Theo, guided by Ms. Tambasco, designed and produced the sign using the laser wood cutter. Over several weeks, Theo collaborated with a real client, making decisions about dimensions, materials, wording, layout, stain color, durability, and cost. Drafts were shared, feedback was incorporated, and revisions were made - mirroring the iterative process of professional design. Theo wasn’t completing a hypothetical assignment; he was creating a permanent feature that would be seen and used by students, employees, and visitors for years to come. The finished wooden sign now sits naturally in the Outdoor Learning Area, a testament to the power of hands-on, real-world learning.

Engagement Beyond the Classroom

The magic of the Design Studio extends far beyond scheduled class time. Lunchtime is often one of the busiest periods in the studio, with students returning to refine existing prototypes, explore new ideas, or simply tinker. Whether it’s transforming a sketch into a wooden pendant, creating a permanent campus sign, or building a functional arcade machine, the Design Studio empowers students to engage deeply, think critically, and learn by doing. In these spaces, learning is never just theoretical. Mistakes teach, curiosity leads the way, and ideas take shape - giving students the confidence and skills to create meaningful contributions to both the classroom and the wider community.

We are incredibly grateful to Steven Dyck and Callie Craven, whose generous sponsorship of the Design Studio makes this hands-on learning possible for our students.