Introduction
The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) Design subject helps students become creators, problem solvers, and innovators. But what makes MYP Design different from a standard design course is its focus on Design Thinking — a structured process that combines creativity, empathy, and inquiry — all framed within the six IB Global Contexts.
Embedding Global Contexts in MYP Design projects transforms creative tasks into meaningful explorations of how design can improve lives. In this guide, we’ll explore how teachers and students can use Design Thinking to connect innovation with purpose through the lens of Global Contexts.
What Is Design Thinking in the MYP?
Design Thinking is a human-centered problem-solving process that encourages students to think creatively, analyze needs, and develop real solutions.
In the MYP, Design Thinking follows four stages aligned with the IB Design Cycle:
- Inquiring and Analyzing: Understanding problems and identifying user needs.
- Developing Ideas: Brainstorming and planning creative solutions.
- Creating the Solution: Producing and testing prototypes.
- Evaluating: Reflecting on the effectiveness and impact of the solution.
When students engage in Design Thinking, they go beyond making products — they learn how design can shape societies and respond to global challenges.
Why Embed Global Contexts in Design Projects
Every MYP Design unit should connect to one of the six Global Contexts, giving the project real-world significance. This helps students understand why design matters.
Global Contexts bring purpose to creativity by linking projects to human needs, sustainability, ethics, and innovation. For example:
- A project framed around Scientific and Technical Innovation could explore renewable energy.
- One linked to Fairness and Development might design assistive devices for accessibility.
- Under Globalization and Sustainability, students could create packaging that reduces waste.
When students see design as a tool for solving global problems, their motivation and engagement soar.
Connecting the Global Contexts to Design Projects
1. Identities and Relationships
Focus on understanding people and their needs.
- Example Project: Design a personal organization system (like a digital planner or journal app) that supports student well-being.
- Key Skills: Empathy, communication, user research.
2. Personal and Cultural Expression
Explore design as a form of creativity and identity.
- Example Project: Create posters or wearable art that celebrates local culture or heritage.
- Key Skills: Aesthetic awareness, symbolism, storytelling.
3. Orientation in Space and Time
Examine how design evolves through history or connects to place.
- Example Project: Redesign a historical artifact using modern techniques.
- Key Skills: Research, comparative analysis, innovation inspired by tradition.
4. Scientific and Technical Innovation
Use design to improve technology and daily life.
- Example Project: Build a prototype for an energy-saving household device.
- Key Skills: Systems thinking, modeling, experimentation.
5. Fairness and Development
Address inequality or promote ethical design.
- Example Project: Develop affordable assistive tools for people with disabilities.
- Key Skills: Problem-solving, ethical reasoning, inclusive design.
6. Globalization and Sustainability
Design with environmental and economic responsibility.
- Example Project: Create reusable packaging or upcycled fashion products.
- Key Skills: Resource management, systems design, circular economy thinking.
These contexts ensure that every design task has social and ethical depth beyond creativity alone.
Embedding Global Contexts Step-by-Step
Step 1: Choose the Context First
Begin with the Global Context before finalizing the project idea. This sets the direction for inquiry and design goals.
Step 2: Craft the Statement of Inquiry
Combine a Key Concept (like Communication or Systems), a Related Concept (like Innovation or Function), and the chosen Global Context into a clear guiding statement.
Example:
“Sustainable design solutions can transform everyday life by promoting environmental responsibility.”
Step 3: Frame Inquiry Questions
Develop factual, conceptual, and debatable questions that encourage deeper exploration.
- Factual: What materials are most sustainable for packaging?
- Conceptual: How can design reduce environmental waste?
- Debatable: Should convenience ever outweigh sustainability?
Step 4: Align with ATL Skills
Encourage Approaches to Learning (ATL) such as critical thinking, research, and organization throughout the design cycle.
Step 5: Reflect on Impact
At every stage, ask students to reflect on how their work relates to the chosen Global Context and who benefits from their solution.
Example Interdisciplinary Unit
Project Title: Designing for a Sustainable Future
- Subject Areas: Design + Individuals and Societies + Sciences
- Global Context: Globalization and Sustainability
- Statement of Inquiry: “Innovation in design can support sustainable living and reduce environmental impact.”
- Project Outcome: Students create prototypes of eco-friendly household products and present sustainability proposals to a local audience.
This kind of interdisciplinary project helps students see design as a bridge between creativity, science, and social responsibility.
Reflection and Assessment
Reflection should focus on both process and purpose:
- How does your solution respond to a global issue?
- What challenges did you face in designing for real users?
- What did you learn about sustainability, ethics, or innovation?
Assessments can include journals, digital portfolios, or presentations that showcase evidence of inquiry, development, and reflection — all within the Global Context.
Conclusion
Embedding Global Contexts into MYP Design Thinking transforms creative projects into purposeful, real-world problem solving. Students move beyond crafting products to designing for people, society, and the planet.
By connecting creativity with context, teachers help learners become innovators who not only imagine solutions but design them responsibly.
In the MYP, design isn’t just about creating — it’s about understanding, empathizing, and improving the world we share.
