Observe

Animation of illustrated eyes wearing glasses and holding up a magnifying glass.

Explore more Design Skills

Observe

Objective: Watch and listen carefully to notice what matters.

Designers observe by using all their senses. This helps them understand how people, places, and things work.

 

Sense and Notice, Grades: K-5

Time: 20-30 min

Choose a place nearby to observe using all your senses and record what you notice.

Facilitator Guide

Cartoon illustration of two hands holding and looking through binoculars.

Activity Deck

Cartoon illustration of two hands holding and looking through binoculars.

Worksheet: Sense and Notice

Notice Your Environment, Grades: 6-12

Time: 20-30 min

Observe your environment, record what you notice, and ask questions that help you gain a new perspective on what previously went unseen.

Facilitator Guide

Activity Deck

Worksheet: Notice Your Environment

Collection Connection

Look at design objects from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum collection that demonstrate how designers observe.

Observe, Grades: K-5

Loosely drawn illustration demonstrating how a straw bends.
Time: 10-15 min
Explore how designers observe objects, nature, spaces, and people around them.

Observe, Grades: K-5

Photograph of a metal peeler with a black handle.
Time: 10-15 min
Explore how designers closely observe their surroundings and human behavior to uncover new insights and ideas, from everyday kitchen tools to self-driving cars