A Do-It-Yourself Design Workshop

A new Web site called 3d-i.org wants to inspire 9- to 12-year-olds to become the next generation's graphic artists, architects, and engineers.

"We want to turn kids on to the fact that so much time and energy goes into the design of toys they play with, the cars they travel in, and the clothes they wear," says 3d-i creative director John Sharp, a teacher at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

The site's "Discover" page focuses on research, where, for example, information about contemporary designers—like Wilson Smith who designs Air Jordans—can be found. The "Design" page is a do-it-yourself workshop, where children are encouraged to design logos, sports cars, and clothes. And in the "Discuss" area, kids can join a message board to exchange ideas on their ultimate dream house. There's even a section offering teachers and parents sample activities and exercises for kids.

Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the site was created by a team of seasoned children's media producers and artists led by The Doc Tank, a documentary filmmaking firm, and Supercosm, a design and technology firm that creates Web sites for educational and entertainment organizations. The hope is that 3d-i.org will become a companion to a possible public TV series. Meanwhile, producers plan to focus on new additions to the site, including classroom curriculum materials.