Teaching Artist Alexis Violet (RISD MArch '23) led a 5-week workshop introducing teens to foundational elements and skills necessary for designing an environment. From initial concept to physical realization, through drawings, scale models, and design exercises, POD teens investigated both 2D and 3D techniques. They experimented with different styles and materials and came away with a better understanding of the language of architecture.

For the first time, Project Open Door partnered with The Steel Yard to run an introductory week-long ceramics course for POD teens this summer. This partnership was possible through the generous Community Collaborations Grant from RISD's Center for Community Partnerships. POD teens spent a week at the Steel Yard facilities learning fundamental skills and techniques in hand-building and wheel-throwing.

We held our 7th annual Toy and Game Design Summer Studio in collaboration with our incredible long-time partner, Hasbro. In this hybrid program, professional toy and game designers zoomed into the POD studio to share their educational, creative, and professional paths with POD teens. Over the week, they guided teens through the design process, from brainstorming to production, and conducted daily design challenges and feedback sessions.

In this pop-up workshop led by Teaching Artist Bridget Provan (RISD MA '22) teens designed and created a 2D stained glass piece in this one-day workshop! After learning to develop a compelling design, teens experimented with applying copper foil, flux, and soldering.

In this two-day workshop led by Teaching Artist and POD Alumni Lyza Baum (RISD TX '19), teens explored the many possibilities of creating woven fabric using a simple frame loom. They looked at contemporary and historic weavings as visual inspiration and discussed how textiles tell stories about the past and present. After just one day in the studios, teens had created a variety of experimental woven samples and a finished woven wall hanging.