About Me

Hello!

I'm Kirsten Wickham — an educator, designer, local artist, and materials-based learning specialist with a Master’s in Education and Psychology and over 15 years of experience working with kids.

I created Playgear Design Lab because I believe kids learn best when they’re actively building, testing, designing, questioning, and making things that feel real to them. Real process-driven learning. The opportunity for people of all ages to have access to premium design education. 

My programs combine design thinking, storytelling, materials science, textiles, engineering concepts, creative problem-solving, and hands-on construction into studio-style experiences that are both highly engaging and deeply educational. Every camp and workshop is intentionally built to help kids develop confidence, observation skills, adaptability, collaboration, and independent thinking through tangible creation.

At Playgear Design Lab we prototype ideas. Study materials. Build characters and systems. Test designs. Solve problems. Learn how function and creativity work together. Whether we’re sewing soft goods, engineering wearable gear, exploring foam dynamics, or building identity-driven characters and worlds, the goal is always the same:

Teach kids how to think like designers.

The studio itself is heavily inspired by Greenville’s textile and maker heritage, combining craftsmanship, experimentation, utility, storytelling, and modern design education into something that feels fresh, premium, human, and genuinely memorable.

I care deeply about creating learning experiences that are rigorous, welcoming, weird, tactile, thoughtful, and exciting — spaces where kids feel capable, curious, and proud of what they create.