Design Lab at the Idea Studio is part of a nationwide partnership intended to deliver high quailty, equitble, and engaging arts intergrated Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) Programming to underrepresented 3rd-5th grade student in the Fond du Lac School District, with a focus on those who may not have the financial ability to gain exposure to STEAM programming and educational pathways. 

Design Lab, also known as the SEED (STEAM Ecosystem Expansion Demonstration) Project, started as the ABC Project presented by Dramatic Results in Long Beach, CA. Dramatic Results was awarded an Assistance for Arts Education (AAE) grant from the federal Department of Education with the intent to duplicate their successful ABC Project here in Fond du Lac, WI; Prince Frederick, MD; and Long Beach, CA. The library is spearheading the SEED Project locally to create our own educational enrichment program in collaboration with the Fond du Lac School District, the Marian University Teacher Education Program, and local STEAM organizations and partners.

The goals of The SEED Project are to develop our community's capacity to create and sustain high-quality, engaging, and equitable STEAM programs for underrepresented students with the long term goal being to close the opportunity an resource gap in our community and build arts integrated educational pathways for a more creative and diverse workforce. We'll work with educators and students on self and social awareness and through design thinking.

The program will have two components, a one week summer program and an academic year program that will consist of multiple workshops throughout each semester. We were funded to serve 50 students in 2022, and will gradually increase that number over the life of the grant. We also will provide targeted professional development to preservice teachers, those currently in the classroom, and professors who are training our teacher workforce.