futuremakers lab
The Thrive Lab
For Youth
Rooted in well-being science and human-centered design, the THRIVE Lab offers both students & educators a creative space to unlock the brilliance of the next generation.
An experiential learning environment
In the THRIVE Lab, you can engage in hands-on experiences designed to unlock brilliance in every learner — for both students and the educators who guide them.
- → Explore flourishing-centered design methods grounded in human-centered design and the science of well-being
- → Test practical tools and facilitation techniques you can immediately integrate into classrooms or programs
- → Observe and assess student learning through authentic, project-based design challenges
- → Cultivate future-ready skills — creativity, collaboration, systems thinking, and reflection
- Dream boldly about the world you want to help shape
- Strengthen creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
- Learn future-thinking tools used by designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators
- Tackle real-world mini design challenges that support human flourishing
- Prototype, test, and showcase ideas that improve your school or community
- Build confidence as a creator, thinker, and changemaker
We collaborate with
The FutureMakers Lab is designed to meet communities where they are. We are happy to collaborate with:
Three phases of real design
All are invited to share their best ideas for solving local, regional & global challenges to a flourishing future. The FutureMakers Lab launches each Challenge with a community ideation jam to kick off the brainstorming.
Ideation Jam
The FutureMakers Lab launches the Challenge with a community ideation jam to kick off the brainstorming. All are invited — students, educators, and community members — to contribute their boldest ideas.
- Open to students and educators worldwide
- All are invited to share their best ideas for solving local, regional & global challenges to a flourishing future
- After community ideation, all are encouraged to brainstorm (on their own or in groups) and submit their ideas to the FutureMakers Lab's public portal
Design Sprint
Full-day or half-day on-site or off-site experiences. In the Lab, students receive their design challenge, form design teams, and learn & practice human-centered design methods to co-create innovative solutions.
- Full-day, half-day on-site or off-site experiences
- In the Lab, students receive their design challenge
- Form design teams
- Learn & practice human-centered design methods to co-create innovative solutions
& Showcase
Teams prototype, test, and showcase ideas that improve their school or community. The FutureMakers Lab is designed for educators who want to elevate their teaching beyond traditional academic methods.
- Prototype, test, and showcase ideas that improve your school or community
- Build confidence as a creator, thinker, and changemaker
- Designed for educators collaborating with school districts, middle & high schools, after-school programs, and more
- Celebrate and reflect on what was learned and made
Open to everyone —
designed for impact
The FutureMakers Lab is designed for educators who want to elevate their teaching experience beyond traditional academic methods. Here's how a collaboration unfolds:
Community Ideation Jam
The Lab launches a Challenge and invites the broader community to brainstorm and submit ideas to a public portal — kicking off the design journey together.
Design Sprint in the Lab
Students receive their challenge, form teams, and use human-centered design methods to co-create innovative, community-focused solutions in full- or half-day sessions.
Prototype, Test & Showcase
Teams build, test, and present prototypes to community stakeholders — building confidence, creativity, and real-world communication skills.
Celebrate & Integrate
Fellows reflect on their growth, receive recognition, and carry new skills and mindsets forward into their lives and communities.
and unlock brilliance.
Whether you're a school, community center, or youth organization — the Thrive Lab is designed to meet you where you are. Let's design flourishing futures together.
The FutureMakers Lab is a creative learning space for young people to design flourishing futures
Open to students and educators worldwide.
All are invited to share their best ideas for solving local, regional & global challenges to a flourishing future.
The FutureMakers Lab launches the Challenge with a community ideation jam to kick off the brainstorming.
After community ideation, all are encouraged to brainstorm (on their own or in groups) and submit their ideas to the FutureMakers Lab’s public portal.
open Challenges
The most promising ideas are selected for presentation to organizations working on that issue.
Full-day, half-day on-site or off-site experiences
In the Lab, students receive their design challenge *
Form design teams
Learn & practice human-centered design methods to co-create innovative solutions
*Local, national or global challenges around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals
Design Sprints
Why the FUTUREMAKERS LAB?
Rooted in well-being science and human-centered design, the FYA FutureMakers Lab offers both students & educators a creative space to unlock the brilliance of the next generation.
The FYA FutureMakers Lab is a guided, hands-on space where you:
Dream boldly about the world you want to help shape
Strengthen creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
Learn future-thinking tools used by designers, entrepreneurs, and innovators
Tackle real-world mini design challenges that support human flourishing
Prototype, test, and showcase ideas that improve your school or community
Build confidence as a creator, thinker, and changemaker
The FYA FutureMakers Lab is an experiential learning environment where you can:
Explore flourishing-centered design methods grounded in human-centered design and the science of well-being
Test practical tools and facilitation techniques you can immediately integrate into classrooms or programs
Observe and assess student learning through authentic, project-based design challenges
Cultivate future-ready skills—creativity, collaboration, systems thinking, and reflection
let’s collaborate
The FutureMakers Lab is designed for educators who want to elevate their teaching experience beyond traditional academic methods. We are happy to collaborate with:
School districts
Middle & high schools
Teachers and classrooms
After-school programs
Youth clubs & community centers
Homeschool collectives
Parent groups
Faith-based programs
Leadership academies
Summer camps
Gifted & talented programs
Teen wellness, arts, or STEM programs.
JOIN US
