Mouse AI Design League

Registration is Now Open for 2025-26!

Due to high response, the deadline for schools to apply is Friday, May 30th. Principal sign-off is required for acceptance into AI Design League.

Want to Learn More Before Applying? Attend an Information Session. 

Want to Hear What Students Have to Say?  Watch testimonials from Design League alum.

Have Questions? designleague@mouse.org

 

What is Mouse AI Design League?

We’ve upgraded our flagship student experience to a year-long, career-connected learning experience and citywide competition for NYC students that empowers them to be problem solvers and leaders in a tech-driven world. Students learn and apply UI/UX design, Generative AI, and Computer Science to build working prototypes and products that improve life across NYC. 

Highlights include:

• A product-development hook with students working towards competing in the citywide 2026 Emoti-Con Competition.
• Connections to the real world with hackathons, special events, and trips to tech companies.
• Tech industry mentors support in-class learning, product dev and pitches, and career exposure.
• On ramps to career-ready programs and special opportunities in NYC.
   

Who is Mouse AI Design League Experience for?

AI Design League has been redesigned for 9th-grade students to learn foundational computing, AI, & CS skills, fluency, and thinking. This learning experience is also great for 8th and 10th-grade students. AI Design League is perfect for a middle or high school who is serious about career-connected learning, student pathways, and creating on-ramps to tech-driven careers.

• Increase a student’s exposure to opportunities in tech-driven careers
• Position them to pursue a career-connected learning pathway
• Strengthen their ability to access the economic mobility that tech-driven careers can provide
• Students develop social-emotional and career readiness skills, including goal orientation, growth mindset, collaboration, communication, creativity, critical thinking, innovation, and an entrepreneurial mindset

AI Design League can also be used as “Career Exploration” within Future Ready NYC’s technology pathways model. Also fully supports FRNYC’s goal that every student develops a strong plan that includes career interests.

Program Overview

AI Design League is a foundational, stand-alone course that empowers your students to be the creators and leaders of an AI-driven world, featuring UX/UI Design, Generative AI, and Computer Science.

Phase 1: Computational Foundations

Students learn fundamental skills in computing, with an emphasis on UX/UI design, computational thinking, computer science education, and generative artificial intelligence. 

Students explore and learn how computing technology and it's products affects users and communities, and how to use human-centered design and computational agency to be responsible creators of tech-driven products.

Students also explore and learn how to identify a viable market problem, conduct research and interviews to assess product need and fit, and which essential features are most important to the intended users.
 

Phase 2: Product Incubator & Emoticon Competition

Leverage hands-on learning experiences from "Computational Foundations," students combine their computing skills (UX/UI, CT, CS, and GAI) and thinking (HCD, CA) to explore potential challenges facing NYC communities.

Students form startup teams to solve a NYC problem/challenges. They begin wireframing their tech-driven product and then prototyping. They also develop branding and marketing, receive feedback from educators and tech mentors, and refine their products.

Students build Emoti-Con pitch presentations that explain the problem, how their tech-driven solution addresses the problem, and how the product works through a live demo.

Each school hosts a school-based EmotiCon competition, where startup teams present and demo their tech-driven solutions. Winning teams then compete in the regional Borough-based competition and top five teams representing each of NYC’s five boroughs, moves on to the citywide Emoti-Con final.

Phase 3: Career Fluency & Pathways

Students explore the landscape of tech-driven careers, reflect on factors that influence career choices and desired lifestyle, while prioritizing student voice and agency. 

Students also explore five in-demand tech career pathways and create "On Ramp Plans" that they will use as a personal guide to make informed choices that can be used immediately to launch and navigate their connected-connected journey in high school, summer programming, and postsecondary majors of study.

Focused on the Student Experience, Eureka Moments, & Pathway Outcomes

In AI Design League, students learn future-ready skills, push their thinking, and gain career-ready fluency in:

• Generative AI fundamentals & skills featuring integrated usage and augmented thinking.
• Design thinking-infused computer science & computational thinking to empower students to identify and solve problems in their community.
• In-school product incubator that mimics early-stage tech companies and the product development startup process.
• Project work focuses on career-connected learning, giving students tangible insight into tech pathways and access to building problem-finding and problem-solving skills.
• Career navigation skills include creative & analytical thinking, adaptability & agility, leadership & social influence, and motivation & self-awareness.
   

By participating-in and completing the AI Design League experience, students will be better positioned to:

• Identify and choose a tech driven pathway to pursue while in high school.
• Identify and participate in a summer immersion program while in high school.
• Identify, apply, and get accepted to internship and apprenticeship opportunities while in high school.
• Enroll in a college or university to pursue a tech-driven career by earning an associates or bachelors degree.
• Enroll in a bootcamp or training program to gain credentials and/or job placement in a tech driven career.

Alumni report stronger readiness for college and STEM-related careers thanks to their AI Design League experience and skills in computational thinking, digital fluency, research and design thinking, and user-centric design principles and methodologies.

Real World Connections & Bridge Experiences

• Mouse-coordinated Emoti-Con, a city-wide competition that connects students with tech professionals, prizes, and opportunities.
• Tech industry mentor visits that complement Design League learning and CTE pathways.
• Field trips to partner companies to expose students to tech-driven careers.

Our Impact

How Does Mouse Support Your School & Teachers?

This standalone, year-long experience provides a strong starting-point to any school’s tech pathway and is a great opportunity for both NEW & EXPERIENCED CS & STEM Teachers. 

AI Design League teachers receive:
 

• Differentiated PD tracks for new and returning teachers with paid summer training, CTLE credits, and implementation-focused learning, strategies, and resources.
• Standards-aligned lesson plans, with scope & sequence planning resources.
• Student-centered and pathways-based curriculum with modular design elements to provide flexibility and modification
• Standards-aligned lesson plans, with scope & sequence planning resources.
• Combination of Intentional and thoughtful virtual and on-site implementation support.
• Professional tech & design tools training, including Canva and Figma.
• A Design Thinking Educator micro-credential, backed by Credly