Article by Ben Johnson

NuVuX Innovation Camp for Educators (NICE) brings together educators and administrators from around the world for an inspiring 2.5 day event filled with design challenges, workshops, speakers, and new collaboration opportunities.

After the summer solstice, educators and administrators gathered at NuVu Innovation School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for the annual NICE event. NICE offers a unique experience for schools interested in integrating design and creative education into their curricula. Participants have the opportunity to collaborate with one another, supported by the NuVuX team, as they engage in a fast-paced design challenge. This year, the challenge focused on facilitating free food exchange in the local neighborhood of NuVu Innovation School, located in Central Square. Typically, a similar design studio experience would take weeks in a school setting. However, at NICE, participants went through an abbreviated version of the process, learning as the students do, in a hands-on and immersive manner. The process included moments of critique, feedback, and reflection, resulting in inspiring full-scale prototypes showcased during a final presentation that received enthusiastic applause from their fellow educators!

Participants were also able to take Skills Workshops in topics like “Digital Fabrication,” where they learned about laser-cutting and 3D printing, “Advanced Hand Prototyping” where they learned about mechanisms, “How to Introduce Studio Concepts into your Classroom,” and “How to Lead a Productive Brainstorming Session.”

The event also featured an outdoor social at Naco Taco and concluded with the awarding of custom-designed prizes, created by our NuVuX team member Ryan, incorporating 3D-printed, cast concrete, and laser-cut wood materials for each team to take home. The NuVuX Coaches and participants were deeply inspired by each team's process and outcomes. It’s always amazing to see what can happen when people come together, embrace problem-solving, and have the design tools, resources, and processes to bring their ideas to life!

Educators from all across the globe were in attendance, including from Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. We are excited for the upcoming year and eager to continue supporting our incredible partner educators and administrators. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and brought their creative enthusiasm!

Educators build prototypes of their concepts around Central Square near NuVu Innovation School.

Educators present their final concepts to peers and provide further critique.