Lessons Learned
What: Lessons Learned: A Denver Pop-up Store When: Exhibition opens Thursday, September 2, 2010, 5:30-8:00pm;continues through Fall 2010 Where: Suite 120 in Riverfront Park, Denver Who: ArtLab + Metropolitan State College of Denver, Communication Design Students
Lessons Learned – A Denver Pop-Up Store. This is a short-term retail exhibition that houses products—found objects—designed and packaged by the high school and college students. Personal narratives of each youth were woven into the design process, re-conceptualizing the products for the pop-up store. The interactive exhibit invites the public to experience the products on display, share their own life stories, and offer lessons of their own. With multiple products ranging from vials ofpatience and “formitables”—oven mitts and chop sticks to help you take the hard road; there is a lesson for every one to learn. This is the second year ArtLab interns have collaborated with Metro State as part of the national initiative, Design Ignites Change. Proceeds from the sale of these products will support next year’s design partnership with Metro State.Inside of the store Lessons LearnedLessons Learned is a Design Ignites Change Youth Mentoring Initiative that challenges students to use design thinking to explore and create solutions for pressing social problems. After nine weeks of working side-by-side the thirteen high school youth and six college mentors are prepared to share their own life lessons. Starting in June and culminating with this exhibit, Lessons Learned will leave a strong imprint on the Denver Metro Community. The Design Ignites Change Initiative gives ArtLab interns the experience to work with Communication Design students and professors from Metro State.With this real-world experience, the students use design thinking to communicate their ideas, exhibit their potential, and take action in their communities. Students learn to visually represent their ideas and beliefs in the form of tangible products, culminating with this exhibition of the pop-up store. Through this experience students gained a strong foundational knowledge of design process and applied this knowledge to the creation of their products. Each Metro State Communication Design student mentored two high school youth, resulting in six powerhouse teams that are ready to be heard.
