It's an other-worldly call to action: Superheroes have returned to Earth and hired WAB Design students to create their new masks.

That's the premise of the current unit in MYP Design. It's a mix of hands-on and digital creation, in which students are given a set of superpowers for their hypothetical superhero client and, in response, are required to research design elements, create a vision for their new mask, create a hand-made model, and then scan it digitally for production by a 3D printer.

"The main focus is that their client has specific needs, and the students are aiming to design a mask that represents that client," Design Teacher Andy Cole said. After the research process, students begin developing concepts, and making 2D and 3D models.

The process of students creating their unique and elaborate masks by hand and then digitizing them for 3D printing for a Lego figurine is when the real magic happens. 

"Students start trying to push the boundaries and start exploring opportunities to create more interesting shapes that get added to their form. It becomes this fusion between making real objects and digitizing them and going back and forth between that digital environment. Students start to understand what they can do."