Where Tradition Meets Innovation | Engineering Tomorrow's Innovators
Welcome to Muskegon Public Schools' Design and Applied Arts programs, where hands-on learning meets cutting-edge innovation. Through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, MEERA (Manufacturing and Engineering Education Reimagined for All) partnerships, and FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), our programs combine science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to solve real-world challenges while developing the technical skills and innovative mindset every Big Red Graduate needs to thrive in college, careers, and life as part of our Innovation Academies of Muskegon (I AM) and Portrait of a Graduate framework.
Building Big Red Graduate Traits Through Design and Applied Arts
Our design and applied arts programs directly develop each competency in Muskegon's Portrait of a Graduate:
Persistent Professional
Students learn dedication and resilience through iterative design processes, meeting competition deadlines, and troubleshooting technical challenges that require sustained effort and continuous improvement.
Collaborator/Relationship Builder
STEAM projects and robotics teams require students to combine diverse skills and perspectives, communicate technical concepts clearly, and work together to achieve complex engineering goals.
Creative Problem Solver
Every design challenge—from programming robots to engineering solutions to creating functional prototypes—demands innovative thinking, systematic approaches, and the resourcefulness to overcome technical obstacles.
Adaptable Communicator
Students master technical communication, presenting design solutions to diverse audiences, documenting engineering processes, and translating complex concepts for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Responsible Citizen
Design and applied arts education emphasizes sustainable practices, ethical use of technology, and engineering solutions that serve community needs while considering environmental and social impacts.
Connected to Your Future
Design and applied arts create the foundational experiences that prepare students for success in any Innovation Academy pathway they choose. Whether students enter Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing, Technology, Skilled Trades, or any other academy pathway, the systematic thinking, technical literacy, and innovative problem-solving developed through design and applied arts provide the essential foundation for thriving in their chosen field and beyond graduation.
Through the hands-on design, building, programming, and competition experiences that define our STEAM courses, MEERA manufacturing labs, and FIRST Robotics program, students develop both technical competency and the innovative, collaborative mindset that drives success in college, careers, and life.
