Design Sense Lab

The method教学方法 5 PILLARS

The five things every good design gets right

好设计无一例外做对的五件事

One per session, then three more sessions to put them together. This is the vocabulary your child will use for the rest of their life — every website, every app, every menu, every poster.

每节课讲一个，三节课把它们组合起来。这套词汇将陪伴孩子一生——他们从此看每一个网站、每一个应用、每一份菜单和海报，都会用这套语言。

P.01 / COLOR

Color as emotion

色彩 即情绪

Warm or cool. Accent or background. The palette tells you who the shop is for before you read a word.

暖色还是冷色，主色还是背景。调色板在读字之前，就告诉你这家店是开给谁的。

P.02 / TYPE

Typography as voice

字体 即声音

Fonts have voice. Serif whispers premium, rounded shouts fun. Text sounds different before you even read it.

字体有声音。衬线低语高端，圆体大喊快乐。文字在阅读前就已经"有声"。

P.03 / IMAGE

Image as mood

图像 即氛围

Where your eye goes is not an accident. Every photo carries mood into the design.

你的目光落在哪里绝非偶然。每张图片都把自己的情绪带入设计。

P.04 / LAYOUT

Layout as rhythm

版式 即节奏

Spacing is a decision. Dense means urgent. Airy means premium. Arrangement tells the story before content does.

留白是决策。紧凑意味紧迫，宽松意味高端。排列先于内容在讲故事。

P.05 / MOTION

Motion as attention

动效 即注意力

Purposeful motion directs attention. Decorative motion is noise. Learn the difference.

有目的的运动引导注意力，装饰性运动只是噪音。学会分辨。

The core question核心问题

Same strawberry milk tea. Same $8.50.
Why did you pick that shop?

同一杯草莓奶茶。同样的 $8.50。
你为什么选了那家店？

03 / Curriculum03 / 课程大纲 10 SESSIONS · 3 ACTS

Ten sessions, staged like a film

十节课，像一部电影分三幕

First they learn to see. Then they learn to shape. Then they build — and defend every choice on the final day.

先学会看见。再学会塑造。最后亲手构建——并在结课日为每一个选择辩护。

Act I — See第一幕 — 看见 Learning to notice what was always there 学会发现一直存在的东西

Color + Mood

色彩与情绪

Same drink, different palettes. Which shop do you walk into?

同一杯饮品，不同配色。你会走进哪家店？

Students start with a CSS boba cup and adjust color dials — background, drink, berries. Then AI takes over: they describe a mood in words, AI picks the colors. Three levels of prompting: vague → descriptive → specific. An "invert" button flips every color, proving the power of contrast.

学生从CSS奶茶杯开始，调整色彩旋钮——背景、饮品、水果。然后AI接手：用文字描述一种情绪，AI选色。三个层次的提示词：模糊→描述性→具体。"反转"按钮翻转所有颜色，证明对比的力量。

Typography + Voice

字体与声音

Same card, two fonts. Which shop sounds expensive?

同一张卡片，两种字体。哪家听起来更高端？

Font family, size, weight, spacing — all controllable. Students discover that serif whispers "premium" while rounded sans-serif shouts "fun." Hierarchy exercises: squint at the card, can you tell what's the name vs the price? Persona round: design for Steve Jobs vs a 5-year-old.

字体族、大小、粗细、间距——全部可控。学生发现衬线字体低语"高端"，圆角无衬线大喊"有趣"。层次练习：眯眼看卡片，能分清名字和价格吗？人物设定：为乔布斯 vs 五岁小孩设计。

Composition

构图

Three arrangements. Where does your eye go first?

三种排列。你的视线首先落在哪？

A hero banner with toggles — layout, Chinese background character, CTA style, price format. Students learn eye path, breathing room, focal point, and content hierarchy. Free canvas round: describe a whole visual world in words, AI builds it in CSS.

一个可切换的主横幅——布局、中文背景字、按钮风格、价格格式。学生学习视线路径、呼吸空间、焦点和内容层次。自由画布环节：用文字描述一个完整的视觉世界，AI用CSS构建它。

Act II — Shape第二幕 — 塑造 From observation to intention 从观察到意图

Layout + Flow

版式与节奏

Four pages, same drinks. Pick one. Make it yours.

四个页面，同样的饮品。选一个，变成你的。

Four pre-built page variations: Classic, Dark Mode, Minimalist, Playful. Students pick a base and refine it with AI — adjusting sections, checking balance after every change. The personality round: define your OWN customer persona and watch AI reshape the whole page.

四种预建页面变体：经典、深色、极简、活泼。学生选一个基础用AI改进——调整各部分，每次修改后检查平衡。个性化环节：定义你自己的客户画像，看AI重塑整个页面。

Theme — The Reveal

主题 — 揭晓时刻

The 4 principles get named. Wireframe → style tile → content.

四大原则正式命名。线框→风格色板→内容。

The pivot session. Students build from a blank wireframe: pick layout, choose colors/fonts/shapes in a style tile, preview the theme, then drop real content in. The 4 principles — Unified Purpose, Intuitive Logic, Empathy, Cohesive Flow — are named for the first time. AI helps at three scales: fix one section, adjust the whole mood, or free-form describe a world.

转折点。学生从空白线框开始：选布局，在风格色板中选颜色/字体/形状，预览主题，然后放入真实内容。四大原则——统一目标、直觉逻辑、共情设计、连贯流动——首次被命名。AI在三个层面提供帮助：修复单个部分、调整整体情绪、或自由描述一个世界。

Real Images

真实图片

Photos drop in. Warm vs cold. Does the theme hold?

照片加入。暖色对冷色。主题还能撑住吗？

8 AI-generated boba photos in warm and cold sets. Students swap them in, toggle between sets, test image filters, and check if the theme survives real imagery. Section-by-section AI control: change the hero, the cards, or the about section independently.

8张AI生成的奶茶照片，分暖色和冷色两套。学生换入、切换、测试滤镜，检查主题是否经得起真实图片的考验。逐段AI控制：独立修改主横幅、卡片或关于部分。

Act III — Build第三幕 — 构建 Making something real 创造真实的作品

Plan First, Build Second

先计划，后执行

AI reviews your plan. Then it builds your site.

AI审核你的计划，然后搭建你的网站。

The planning sheet: 5 pillars, each requiring specific decisions — not "nice colors" but "cream #FAF6F1 background, brown sugar accent." Self-check with 6 checkboxes. AI scores the plan 1–5 per pillar before unlocking the Build button. Design Boost toggle gives AI professional design guidelines behind the scenes.

规划表：五大支柱，每个都需要具体决策——不是"漂亮的颜色"而是"奶油色#FAF6F1背景，红糖色重点"。6个复选框自查。AI在解锁构建按钮前为计划逐项评分1–5。设计增强开关在幕后为AI提供专业设计指南。

Full Build

完整构建

Plain gray to fully styled. Section by section.

从灰色空白到完整风格。逐段改造。

Start from an unstyled page — Arial, gray, zero personality. Transform it block by block: hero first (feel the mismatch with the plain cards below), then menu cards, then the rest. CSS-only approach: text content stays untouched, only visual presentation changes.

从一个无样式页面开始——Arial字体，灰色，零个性。逐块改造：先做主横幅（感受与下方朴素卡片的不协调），再做菜单卡片，最后是其余部分。纯CSS方法：文字内容不变，只改变视觉呈现。

Peer Review

同伴评审

52 checkpoints. Score your classmate's page.

52个检查点。为同学的页面打分。

A structured review checklist across all 5 pillars — 9–10 items per pillar, each with a "where to look" hint. Auto-scoring dots. The instructor picks one pillar and everyone compares across all pages. "Is the heading font the same across all sections?" — that specific.

覆盖五大支柱的结构化评审清单——每个支柱9–10项，每项都有"在哪里看"的提示。自动评分点。导师选择一个支柱，所有人跨页面比较。"标题字体在所有部分中是否一致？"——就是这么具体。

Showcase — Defend your choices

展示 — 为你的选择辩护

Present your work. Explain the hardest choice you made.

展示你的作品。解释你做过的最难的选择。

4 presentation options: best full page, one proud section, a before/after transformation, or something broken you can explain WHY. 6 talking points with prep time. 5-minute timer per presenter. The final reflection: "Before this class, I used to ___. Now I ___."

4种展示选项：最佳完整页面、一个引以为豪的部分、前后对比、或你能解释"为什么"的缺陷之处。6个发言要点和准备时间。每人5分钟计时。最终反思："上课前，我曾___。现在我___。"

04 / For Parents04 / 致家长

What your child actually leaves with

孩子真正带走的

Critical Thinking批判性思维

Analyze why a design works — not just whether they "like" it. Name the pillar, point at the element, explain the reason.

分析设计为什么有效——而不只是说"喜欢"。指出支柱，定位元素，解释原因。

ii.

Visual Literacy视觉素养

See what most people miss: color temperature, font hierarchy, spacing rhythm. A new lens for every screen they encounter.

看见大多数人忽略的：色温、字体层次、间距节奏。一副全新的眼镜，审视每一个屏幕。

iii.

Communication表达能力

Describe visual ideas precisely — first to AI, then to classmates, finally to an audience. By Session 10, they present and defend every choice.

精确描述视觉创意——先对AI，再对同学，最后对观众。到第十节课，他们能展示并论证每一个选择。

iv.

AI CollaborationAI协作

Use AI as a tool, not a crutch. The skill is knowing what to ask for — seeing what works and what doesn't, then describing it precisely.

把AI当工具，而非拐杖。核心技能是知道该要什么——看出什么有效、什么不对，然后精确描述。

Session 05 · The four principles第05课 · 四大原则

By Session 5, your child names why design works using Unified Purpose · Intuitive Logic · Empathy · Cohesive Flow. By Session 10, they present their work and defend every choice out loud.

到第5课，孩子用四项原则说清设计为何有效：统一目标 · 直觉逻辑 · 共情设计 · 连贯流动。到第10课，他们向观众展示作品，并为每个选择辩护。

Your child's instructors孩子的导师

Two pairs of trained eyes

两双训练有素的眼睛

i. Art Instructor一、艺术导师

Vicent

A trained painter who teaches seeing — color relationships, visual hierarchy, composition. He reads a design the way a conductor reads a score.

一位受过专业训练的画家，教你"看见"——色彩关系、视觉层次、构图。他阅读设计的方式，如同指挥阅读乐谱。

ii. Prompting Instructor二、提示词导师

AI Design Coach

AI设计教练

Teaches how to translate what you see into words AI understands. The bridge between "something feels off" and knowing exactly what to fix.

教你如何将所见翻译成AI能理解的语言。连接"感觉哪里不对"和"精确知道该修什么"之间的桥梁。

Everyone thinks they are looking. Very few people are actually seeing. My job is to show you the difference — and to make that difference impossible to un-know.

每个人都以为自己在"看"。真正在"见"的，少之又少。我的工作，是让你感受到这两者的差距——然后让这个差距，永远无法被遗忘。

— Vicent · Art Instructor— Vicent · 艺术导师

What your child takes home孩子带回家的

Tangible work, not just experience

看得见的作品，不只是经历

The worry about AI classes: "Will my kid actually learn, or will AI do it for them?" Our answer — by Session 10, every student has concrete proof of what they can see, describe, and build.

家长对AI课常见的担忧："孩子真的在学，还是AI替他做了？"我们的答案——到第10课，每个学生都有具体证据，证明他看得见什么、能说清什么、能做出什么。

i. the site

A Complete Website

一个完整的网站

Their own boba shop — custom colors, fonts, layout, hand-picked images. Live on the web, shareable with family.

他们自己的奶茶店网站——定制的颜色、字体、布局、精选图片。在线可访问，能分享给家人。

ii. the journal

A Design Journal

一本设计笔记

Notes from every session, their own principle cards, the AI prompts that worked and didn't. A reference they'll keep using.

每节课的笔记、他们自己的原则卡、奏效和失败的AI提示。一本他们会继续使用的参考手册。

iii. the defense

A 5-Minute Presentation

一场五分钟展示

Session 10 finale: they present their work and defend every choice. If they can explain the "why," they own the skill.

第十课压轴：他们展示作品并为每个选择辩护。能解释"为什么"，就真的拥有这项技能。

Questions parents ask家长常问的问题

Honest answers, not a sales deck

坦诚的回答，不是销售话术

Will my child actually learn, or will AI do the work for them?

孩子真的在学，还是AI替他做了？

This is the most important question, and our curriculum is built around it. Students describe what they want in plain language — AI only generates what they asked for. When they can't articulate it, AI can't help them. In Session 9, they score each other's work across 52 specific checkpoints. In Session 10, they defend every choice out loud. If they can't explain why, they haven't earned the result.

这是最重要的问题，我们的课程就是围绕它设计的。学生用日常语言描述他们想要什么——AI只生成他们要求的东西。说不清楚，AI就帮不上忙。第9课，他们用52个具体检查点互相评审。第10课，他们大声为每个选择辩护。说不出原因，就没有真正掌握。

ii.

Is 10–18 too wide an age range for one cohort?

一个班10到18岁，年龄跨度是不是太大？

We group cohorts by maturity, not strict age. Visual design is one of the few domains where a 12-year-old and a 16-year-old learn the same things from the same materials — what differs is how much they write, not how much they see. When cohort demand allows, we split younger (10–13) and older (14–18) groups.

我们按成熟度而非严格年龄分班。视觉设计是少数几个12岁和16岁能从相同材料中学到相同东西的领域——区别在于他们写得多少，不在于他们能看见多少。当报名人数允许时，我们会分成低龄（10–13）和高龄（14–18）两个班。

iii.

What does the schedule look like? Is 3 hours too long?

上课安排怎么样？三小时会不会太长？

Each 3-hour session has three distinct phases: 45 minutes of observation & critique, 90 minutes of hands-on building, 45 minutes of peer sharing and reflection. Short breaks between. We run weekly; students report the time feels fast because they're always making something.

每节3小时的课分三个阶段：45分钟观察与评论，90分钟动手制作，45分钟同伴分享和反思。中间有短暂休息。我们每周一次；学生反馈时间过得飞快，因为他们一直在动手做东西。

iv.

Do I need to pay for AI tools or software?

需要额外付费购买AI工具或软件吗？

No. Everything runs in our classroom platform — AI calls, student workspaces, design tools. Your child only needs a laptop (or tablet with keyboard) and a browser. No subscriptions, no app installs, no account sign-ups on third-party services.

不需要。所有东西都在我们的课堂平台上运行——AI调用、学生工作区、设计工具。孩子只需要一台笔记本电脑（或带键盘的平板）和浏览器。没有订阅费，不用安装应用，不用在第三方服务上注册账号。

Is there homework between sessions?

课后有作业吗？

Yes — but it's looking, not making. Each week, students keep a "screenshot journal" of 3 designs they noticed in the wild (menus, posters, apps, signs) with a one-line note on what worked or didn't. We share these at the start of the next session. Total time: 15–20 minutes per week.

有——但是观察作业，不是制作作业。每周学生记一本"截图日志"，拍3张他们在日常生活中注意到的设计（菜单、海报、应用、招牌），写一行什么地方做得好或不好。下节课开始时分享。每周总用时：15–20分钟。

vi.

How will I know my child is making progress?

我怎么知道孩子有进步？

After each session, you receive a short note from the instructor: one thing your child noticed that surprised us, one thing they're still working on. Every piece of their work is saved to their portfolio — you can watch it grow session by session. At Session 10, they present to family and friends.

每节课后，您会收到导师的简短反馈：孩子注意到的一个让我们惊喜的点，和一个还在努力的点。他们每一件作品都保存在个人档案中——您可以每节课后看到它在成长。第10课，他们向家人和朋友展示。

vii.

What about pricing and scheduling?

学费和排课如何？

We run small cohorts of 10 students in Fairfax County, VA. Tuition and the next cohort schedule are shared when you apply — we'd rather have a 10-minute conversation with you than a price tag on a website. Apply below and we'll reach out within 2 business days.

我们在弗吉尼亚州费尔法克斯郡开设10人小班。学费和下期开课时间会在您申请后告知——我们更希望和您有10分钟的交流，而不是在网页上挂一个价签。下方申请，我们会在2个工作日内联系您。

Taste isthenewcode.

品味是新的代码。

AI can build any website in 30 seconds. So what's left to teach?

AI能在30秒内搭出任何网站。那还剩什么值得教？

The five things every good design gets right

好设计无一例外做对的五件事

Ten sessions, staged like a film

十节课，像一部电影分三幕

What your child actually leaves with

孩子真正带走的

Two pairs of trained eyes

两双训练有素的眼睛

Tangible work, not just experience

看得见的作品，不只是经历

Honest answers, not a sales deck

坦诚的回答，不是销售话术

Ready to see differently?

准备好用不同的眼光看世界了吗？

Taste isthenewcode.

品味 是新的代码。

AI can build any website in 30 seconds. So what's left to teach?

AI能在30秒内搭出任何网站。那还剩什么值得教？

The five things every good design gets right

好设计无一例外做对的五件事

Ten sessions, staged like a film

十节课，像一部电影分三幕

What your child actually leaves with

孩子真正带走的

Two pairs of trained eyes

两双训练有素的眼睛

Tangible work, not just experience

看得见的作品，不只是经历

Honest answers, not a sales deck

坦诚的回答，不是销售话术

Ready to see differently?

准备好用不同的眼光看世界了吗？

品味是新的代码。