The (Little) Language Lab

In New York City, where 18% of students are English Language Learners and nearly half speak a language other than English at home, literacy education is at a critical turning point. Research reveals that ELL students who participate in bilingual education programs lead to better academic performance than their peers educated solely in English. What if literacy education could serve as a tool to embrace multilingualism and how can design aid this ideological transformation?

The (Little) Language Lab: Design, Play, and Explore New Models for Literacy-Inspired Spaces brings together a unique showcase where multilingualism isn’t an accommodation —it’s celebrated. Attendees are invited to explore interactive models to better understand how thoughtfully design can enhance language learning and cultural connectivity for groups of all ages.

Through immersive demonstrations and hands-on activities, participants will explore practical and imaginative solutions to nurture multilingualism. This event aims to challenge traditional notions of literacy spaces, and asks attendees to challenge the designer’s role to reimagine the current English-dominant landscape into vibrant hubs for cultural exchange and collective empowerment.

Open to all ages, The (Little) Language Lab invites families, educators, designers, and the public to actively engage with prototypes and collaboratively envision what inclusive, multilingual literacy spaces can look like in our city and beyond. Join us to celebrate the transformative power of language diversity and explore how intentional design can bridge gaps and redefine the future of literacy education.