Cosmodrome
Igniting Curiosity: A Space Race Engineering Workshop for Kids
Igniting Curiosity: A Space Race Engineering Workshop for Kids
Experiential
Identity
Design
Illustration
Motion
Copy
Wayfinding
Identity
Design
Illustration
Motion
Copy
Wayfinding
For my thesis project at CCAD, I designed and delivered Cosmodrome — a complete brand, advertising campaign, and hands-on engineering workshop for children ages 6–10. Rather than a standard STEM event, I created an immersive celebration of the 1950s–60s Space Race that connected its spirit of bold innovation to the everyday technologies it inspired — from GPS and weather forecasting to agriculture and healthcare — while rekindling the sense of wonder and ambition that once made kids dream of becoming astronauts.
CHALLENGE
Today’s children show dramatically lower interest in science and engineering careers, with many aspiring primarily to become streamers or social media influencers. In contrast, kids during the Space Race era dreamed of becoming astronauts. For this thesis project, I chose to create an engaging, educational workshop that would inspire genuine curiosity in STEM, appeal to both kids aged 6–10 and their parents, and be fully executable on a limited budget as a one-off library event.
INSIGHT
The golden age of the Space Race wasn’t just about rockets, but about ordinary people achieving the extraordinary through creativity, collaboration, and engineering ingenuity. By evoking that era’s optimism and heroism, we could counter modern passive entertainment trends and show children that they too could become heroes and heroines of discovery and innovation.
APPROACH
I built the entire Cosmodrome experience around the guiding mission: “Let’s go to the moon. Some assembly required.”
Today’s children show dramatically lower interest in science and engineering careers, with many aspiring primarily to become streamers or social media influencers. In contrast, kids during the Space Race era dreamed of becoming astronauts. For this thesis project, I chose to create an engaging, educational workshop that would inspire genuine curiosity in STEM, appeal to both kids aged 6–10 and their parents, and be fully executable on a limited budget as a one-off library event.
INSIGHT
The golden age of the Space Race wasn’t just about rockets, but about ordinary people achieving the extraordinary through creativity, collaboration, and engineering ingenuity. By evoking that era’s optimism and heroism, we could counter modern passive entertainment trends and show children that they too could become heroes and heroines of discovery and innovation.
APPROACH
I built the entire Cosmodrome experience around the guiding mission: “Let’s go to the moon. Some assembly required.”
The visual language drew inspiration from vintage NASA technical manuals and mid-century space graphics, then amplified with vibrant, playful colors to make it inviting for young children. I developed a full retro-futuristic brand identity, including a custom logo, supporting graphics, posters, wayfinding signage, and a social media ad campaign for Instagram. I also created a simple promotional website.
The workshop was hosted twice at a local library. Each participant received a custom kit containing parts, step-by-step instructions styled like old NASA manuals, a baggie to keep their components, and a commemorative takeaway pin. The highlight of the event was a hands-on activity where kids built their own mini-motorized “moon lander,” applying basic engineering principles while immersed in the narrative of space exploration.
