Oregon Design Library
Oregon Design Library is a hands-on education initiative built around a simple idea: people learn best when they are given the opportunity to explore, design, build, solve real problems, and connect those experiences to a meaningful future.
Our work combines engineering, technology, design, skilled trades, media, project-based learning, and community problem-solving. The goal is not simply to expose students to tools or technology. The goal is to help participants develop capability, confidence, completed work, and a clearer understanding of where their skills can lead.
25 Years in the Making
Oregon Design Library grows from more than 25 years of work across engineering, community education, instructional design, multimedia, workforce learning, and public service.
The path began with grant-supported community education work involving Intel and the City of Portland and expanded through Oregon schools, colleges, public media, nonprofit organizations, and community partnerships.
That experience later extended into technical training, user experience, organizational change, and workforce-development programs for major employers and federal agencies.
Oregon Design Library is the continuation of that work — not a program created for a single grant cycle.
Why This Work Matters
Education should lead somewhere.
Students should have opportunities to understand how things work, build useful skills, complete real projects, meet people working in different careers, and see a path between what they are learning today and what they may be able to do tomorrow.
Oregon Design Library is designed to complement the work already happening in schools, Tribal education programs, STEM organizations, colleges, employers, libraries, youth programs, and community organizations.
We listen first, identify what is already working, ask what is missing, and look for places where Oregon Design Library can add useful capacity.
Eastern Oregon
The next phase of Oregon Design Library is being developed in northeastern Oregon, with an initial focus on the Pendleton area.
We are currently listening to educators, Tribal education leaders, youth services, regional STEM organizations, colleges, employers, tradespeople, public agencies, students, and families before defining a local pilot program.
The goal is not rapid expansion.
The goal is to understand the need, build strong relationships, define a useful role, and develop one successful local project with the right partners.
Leadership
Oregon Design Library is directed by Marc Schaffer.
Marc holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology and a Master of Education in Instructional Technology. His professional background includes engineering, quality, multimedia, instructional design, user experience, technical training, organizational change, and workforce learning.
His recent work includes learning-experience design with Meta and federal training supporting the United States Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Across that work, the focus has remained consistent: understand the learner, understand the problem, build something useful, measure the result, and improve it.
Our Approach
- Listening before designing
- Respect for local knowledge and community priorities
- Hands-on learning connected to real outcomes
- Clear roles and responsible partnerships
- Safety, accountability, and documentation
- Measurement and continuous improvement
- Education connected to careers, service, and opportunity
Oregon Design Library is independent, nonpartisan, mission-driven, and focused on helping participants build the skills, confidence, and direction needed to contribute to their communities and their future.