INDIANAPOLIS, August 14, 2023– Studio Science, an Indianapolis-based design and innovation consultancy, recently completed a series of four creative workshops with 15 high school students from Pathways, a OneAmerica® program which aims to engage local talent and diversify the workforce by building skills, connections and a path to sustainable income. Workshop topics included design thinking methodologies, product management principles, paper prototyping, and user interface design. The workshop series was part of a summer-long app building competition sponsored by Nextech, an Indiana nonprofit organization and supporting member of the Central Indiana Community Foundation.
A long-standing relationship for stronger communities
The workshops build on an over decade-long relationship between Nextech and Studio Science, who have in the past hosted Nextech-sponsored students for office tours and career presentations, served as one-on-one mentors for semester-long student projects, and developed and facilitated a five-day design thinking boot camp.
With help from Studio Science, the OneAmerica Pathways students are better prepared to maintain a people-centered mindset, experiment with different problem-solving approaches, develop thoughtful digital products, and create engaging user experiences. These skills will be essential as the OneAmerica group begins the next phase of their summer program: imagining and creating unique technology solutions to solve real-world challenges in their communities.
Karen Jung, President of Nextech, said of the workshop series, “When industry professionals directly engage with high school students, the impact reverberates far beyond the initial interaction. These experiences unlock a world of possibilities, propelling students towards innovation, practical skills, and a deeper understanding of the real-world application of knowledge. I cannot thank Studio Science enough for their commitment to developing the next generation of tech talent.”
About Studio Science
Studio Science is a consultative, creative partner that works as an extension of its clients’ teams. For more than 25 years, they’ve worked with industry-defining enterprise and technology companies to solve business challenges through design. They help their clients to achieve remarkable growth by designing better brand experiences, delivering better product experiences, and providing better eCommerce experiences–all by putting people first.
To learn more, visit studioscience.com.
About Nextech
Launched in 2015, Nextech, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is dedicated to creating equitable access to computer science curriculum and experiences for all K-12 Indiana students to help each student unleash his or her potential to thrive in a digital economy. Nextech is a supporting organization of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. For more information visit: nextech.org
About The OneAmerica Pathways Program
The OneAmerica Pathways Program was introduced in 2018 in response to the shortage of good jobs in central Indiana. That year, a Brookings Institution report showed that only 35% of central Indiana workers without bachelor’s degrees held good or promising jobs. Through Pathways, OneAmerica is taking steps to reverse that trend by building and strengthening our local workforce and encouraging other companies and organizations to do the same.
In the Pathways Junior Fellows program, high school students and recent graduates are selected to spend summer break learning about OneAmerica, the financial services industry and what it takes to engage and be accountable at work. Program participants discover potential careers in areas they may not have considered otherwise, and OneAmerica identifies individuals who could eventually join its team.
Studio Science and Nextech are not affiliates of the companies of OneAmerica.