Observe
Observe
Watch and listen carefully to notice what matters.
Designers observe by looking and listening carefully. This helps them understand how people, places, and things work.
Sense and Notice
Choose a place nearby to observe using all your senses and record what you notice.
Grades: K-5
Time: 20-30 min
Worksheet
Use this worksheet alongside the activity or pair it with another lesson.
Notice Your Environment
Observe your environment, record what you notice, and ask questions that help you gain a new perspective on what previously went unseen.
Grades: 6-12
Time: 20-30 min
Worksheet
Use this worksheet alongside the activity or pair it with another lesson.
Collection Connection
Look at design objects from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum collection that demonstrate how designers observe.
K-5: Observe
Time: 10-15 min
Explore how designers observe objects, nature, spaces, and people around them.
6-12: Observe
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
