Your students can Google anything in seconds, access AI tools, and have an endless amount of knowledge at their fingertips. If all that information is instantly available, why are we still focused on memorization? Memorization is out, but unique human capabilities will always be in. Durable Skills like creativity, communication, and critical thinking will always be essential, no matter the industry or innovations in technology (America Succeeds, 2025).
The 10 Durable Skills are: Leadership, Character, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Metacognition, Mindfulness, Growth Mindset, and Fortitude. [Learn more about each skill]
Building on the research from America Succeeds, industries are sharing that:
- 74% of hiring managers say they’re concerned about Gen Z’s interpersonal skills
- 70% of hiring managers think Gen Z is not ready for work
- 65% of Gen Z college graduates believe they are not prepared for the workforce
Source: Forbes, August 2025
This data demonstrates that traditional teaching methods alone aren’t fully addressing these Durable Skills. Design thinking steps in – a human-centered approach to innovation that’s transforming how we teach and how students learn.
Whether you’re in Kent County or beyond, here’s why one regional initiative offers powerful lessons and tools for educators everywhere.
How Does Design Thinking Develop Durable Skills?
Design Thinking has its roots in the world of business, with well-known companies such as Airbnb, Netflix, and Uber Eats using this approach to improve their business and problem-solve (Harvard Business School, 2022). Here’s why: Design Thinking activates the exact skills employers want—students aren’t passively receiving information; they’re empathizing with real users, collaborating with peers, and iterating based on feedback.
So what does this look like in practice? Here’s how Kent ISD is bringing design thinking to life.
Kentwood and GRPS Students in Action: The West Michigan Design Prize
Students and teachers in Kent County, in both Kentwood Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools, have been actively participating in design thinking through the West Michigan Design Prize.
Real-World Problem Solving: A Design Thinking Case Study
The West Michigan Design Prize is a collaboration between MiSTEM: Greater West Michigan Region 8, Kendall College of Art and Design, Kent ISD, Ottawa ISD, and Muskegon ISD. The Design Prize immerses students in a collaborative, project-based experience that inspires agency, nurtures empathy, and fosters future-proof skills in design thinking and creative problem-solving. Students actively participate in an iterative process guided by an interconnected support system as they develop innovative solutions for a real-world design challenge.
For the pilot of the West Michigan Design Prize in the 2024-25 school year, students tackled this question: “How can your team design a creative product that encourages everyone in the community to connect and enjoy public spaces respectfully and harmoniously?”
Over five months, students moved through the Design Thinking cycle by gathering insights from peers about their experiences in public places, defining the problem, and ideating potential solutions. Students collaborated with an industry partner, either Steelcase or Progressive Companies, to learn more about how the industry uses design thinking in their work. The industry partner also provided feedback on students’ ideas.
Using this feedback, students created a prototype and collaborated with a student from Kendall College of Art and Design to produce a digital rendering. They then presented their professional poster and pitch at the Grand Rapids Art Museum’s final showcase in February. Explore their final designs below! One team from Kentwood Public Schools took 2nd place, and another from Grand Rapids Public Schools took 3rd place in the Middle School division!
Explore the student work below:
View the Kentwood Project (PDF)
Click here for Team Valleywood Middle School’s journey on Padlet.
Students shared the following about their experience in the design process, highlighting durable skills in action.
“There was amazing leadership and mutual idea making.” ~ Heavyn, Student
“Making the box was fun, and my team helped a lot with this project.” ~ Aurora, Student
The Impact: Preparing Students to Be Innovators and Problem-Solvers
The integration of design thinking into education is more than just a new teaching method; it’s a way of preparing students to be more empathetic innovators and problem-solvers.
Our goal as educators is not just to transmit knowledge, but to equip students with the tools to navigate an ever-changing world. Design thinking provides a toolkit that fosters creativity, collaboration, and a deep understanding of human needs.
The enthusiasm and creative solutions throughout the West Michigan Design Prize are a testament to the effectiveness of the Design Thinking process and to teachers’ dedication to recognizing the value of innovative teaching.
I’m excited for another year of the West Michigan Design Prize and would love to see even more representation from Kent County in future years! Explore these local examples of design thinking in action and reach out to Lindsay Lane with your ideas about bringing design thinking into your classroom, through the West Michigan Design Prize, or in another way!
#WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd #Innovative #Learning #Opportunities
This blog post was written by Lindsay Lane, Innovative Learning Consultant at Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, T&L Marketing and Communications Specialist for Kent ISD.
Leave a Reply