Advocacy by Design / Lesson 11 of 17 · Build It
Crazy Headwear Challenge
Everything so far has been practice. This is the first piece: design and build headwear that tells a story. Hat, headband, crown, wig, scarf — anything worn on the head qualifies.
The only rule: it must include a working circuit that lights up somewhere — and the light should be part of the story, not just decoration.
Why headwear first?
It’s the perfect first build: small enough to finish, big enough to be seen across a room, structurally forgiving (nobody expects a hat to drape like a gown), and it sits at eye level — where runway audiences actually look.
The process is the course in miniature
- Story first. What is this headwear saying? One sentence, written down.
- Ideate on paper. The head-and-shoulders croquis on your Croquis sheet exists for exactly this. Three versions, then choose.
- Elements check. Line, color, shape, texture — one deliberate decision each.
- Circuit plan on the sketch. Battery hides where? Lights land where? Parallel, right?
- Build, fail, adjust, persist. The gap between sketch and object is where making lives.
Raw materials: paper, cardboard, fabric scraps, recyclables, and whatever your imagination grabs — plus adhesives, cutting tools, and color. For inspiration (not for copying — be your own designer): Instructables’ silly hats gallery.
From our designers
Three students who took this challenge in wonderfully different directions:
“My brother is a musician, so I wanted to make him a hat that showed this part of his personality.” — Victoria
“I believe you can be creative with whatever you have around, so I used scratch paper and fingernail polish to create this giant bow.” — Isabella
“I am a feathers, flowers and sparkles kind of girl, but that doesn’t mean I am not strong too. The lights represent how my brain lights up when I get to be creative.” — Italia
Notice Italia’s line: the lights represent something. That’s the standard.
For teachers: Timebox the build to 1–2 sessions — scarcity fuels creativity here, and this is a warm-up, not the final piece. End with a two-minute mini runway or photo walk: every designer says the story, shows the light. It’s a rehearsal for the exhibition module and a checkpoint for who needs circuit help before the big build.