Where Imagination Meets Real-World Impact
At the AIS Design and Innovation Studio, students don’t just imagine possibilities—they bring them to life. More than just a classroom, this vibrant hub inspires students of all ages to explore, invent, and solve problems through hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
As the STEAM hub of Austin International School, the studio brings together science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics in meaningful ways—showing students that creativity and innovation go hand in hand.
A Space Aligned with Global Learning
With our recent accreditation as an IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) school, the studio reflects the IB mission of nurturing curious, reflective, and engaged learners. Here, students embrace the design thinking process—empathize, ideate, prototype, test—as they tackle real-world challenges and bring bold ideas to life.
For Middle School: Innovation in Action
For middle school students, the studio serves as their official MYP Design classroom, where they take ownership of the learning process and apply design skills to meaningful projects. They design, build, create, and reflect—all while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and resilience.
For Lower Grades: Building the Foundations of Innovation
When younger students work in the DIS, they are introduced to design through playful, age-appropriate activities that lay the foundation for innovation. Whether crafting prototypes, exploring digital tools, or experimenting with new materials, they learn an essential lesson: their ideas matter—and those ideas can spark real change.
A Culture of Exploration
Above all, the Design and Innovation Studio is a space for exploration where mistakes are celebrated. It encourages experimentation, collaboration, and purpose-driven creativity. It is a place where students learn that they are not just learners, but also inventors, designers, and problem-solvers—ready to shape the world around them with confidence and purpose.
Student Projects in the DIS:
- Educational Toys
- Designs for the AIS Community
- Speculative Designs for a better future
- Chair designs
- Video Documentaries
- WebRadio
Tools & Technology available in the DIS:
- BOSS EVO Laser Cutter
- X-Carve CNC
- BAMBU Labs 3D Printers
- Creality Ender 3D Printers
- Variety of Power Tools
- M3 iMacs
- Adobe CC Suite
- Blender (3D Modeling & Animation)
- OnShape (CAD)
- Digital Cameras & Audio Equipment (Video Production)
- Green Screen (VFX Compositing)
- Podcast Studio
Schedule a visit to see the Design and Innovation Studio in action