Local News 2040
From local challenges to future solutions.
Design Challenge
Discover
Ideate
Develop
Showcase
Define
Refine
Deliver
Discuss
Investigating & Defining
Generating & Designing
Producing & Implementing
Evaluating
Design Challenge:
How might your community change for the better by 2040?
Design and prototype a future product, service, system or place that responds to a local challenge or opportunity.
Then share your solution as a short Local News 2040 story, reporting on the positive impact your idea has made to the community.
Suggested Timeline of Activities
Week | Focus | Portfolio Activities |
1 | Launch the project | Design Challenge, Exploring Your Community, Community Challenge Evidence |
2 | Investigate opportunities | Explore Existing Solutions, Helpful Community Resources |
3 | Generate ideas | Exploring Future Possibilities, My Future Ideas, Share |
4 | Define the design | Design Brief, Evaluation Criteria |
5 | Develop concepts | Exploring Design Possibilities, Developing Your Future Solution (Pages 1-3) |
6 - 8 | Plan and prototype | Prototyping Proposed Future Solution, Prototype Your Future Solution |
8-9 | Create the news story | Future Headlines, Storyboard, Script & Production |
10 | Edit and present | Create Your Local News 2040 Story, Local News 2040 Premiere, Reflection |
Feedback Rubric�
Design process stage | Below the Level | Working Towards the Level | At the Level | Above the Level |
Investigating & Defining | Identifies a community challenge or opportunity in a general way with limited explanation. Research is minimal or descriptive. | Identifies a clear community challenge or opportunity. Uses some research to explain the context or need. | Clearly explains a specific community challenge or opportunity. Research informs design decisions about people, place, technologies or community resources. | Insightfully explains a well-defined community challenge or opportunity. Research is purposeful and clearly shapes the design direction, community impact and future possibilities. |
Generating & Designing | Generates a small number of ideas with limited detail. Sketches or concepts are unclear or underdeveloped. | Generates multiple ideas. Uses sketches, diagrams or models to communicate basic features and functions. | Generates, tests and refines ideas using sketches, diagrams or models. Design decisions are explained using appropriate design language. | Generates and iterates ideas thoughtfully. Design concepts are clearly communicated, justified, and demonstrate creativity, innovation and consideration of future community impacts. |
Planning & Managing | Planning is incomplete or informal. Limited consideration of materials, tools, technologies, production or time. | Develops a basic plan outlining production steps, tools, technologies and resources. Some awareness of time and safety. | Develops and follows a clear plan. Selects appropriate tools, technologies and resources and manages time effectively. | Plans are detailed, flexible and well managed. Adjustments are made thoughtfully in response to challenges, feedback or changing ideas. |
Producing & Implementing | Produces limited prototype or media evidence that partially communicates the future solution. | Produces suitable prototypes, visual assets and a news story that communicate the future solution with some effectiveness. | Produces effective prototypes, visual assets and a clear Local News 2040 story that successfully communicates the future solution and its community impact. | Produces polished prototypes and engaging media that effectively communicate a believable future solution. High levels of care, creativity and technical skill are evident throughout. |
Evaluating | Makes simple statements about what worked or did not work. Limited reference to criteria, feedback or community impacts. | Evaluates the design against some criteria. Identifies strengths, areas for improvement and reflects on the final news story. | Evaluates the design against agreed criteria and feedback. Suggests realistic improvements and considers the impacts on the future community. | Critically evaluates the design's effectiveness, community impacts and future implications. Improvements are thoughtful and clearly linked to evaluation criteria, feedback and evidence. |
Investigating & Defining
Every community has opportunities to improve.
Explore your local area and identify places, people, activities or services that could become even better by 2040.
Choose one option from each column below to generate possible future design opportunities.
Add your own ideas if you think of something different.
You could:
Community Opportunities
Place or Area | Current Challenge and Opportunity | Future Possibility |
Parks and open spaces | More shade | Regenerative landscapes |
Main streets | Empty shops | New community spaces |
Schools | Better learning spaces | Flexible future learning |
Sporting clubs | More participation | New sporting experiences |
Public transport | Better accessibility | Smarter mobility |
Shopping areas | More community activity | Mixed-use spaces |
Rivers, beaches or bushland | Environmental protection | Healthier ecosystems |
Community centres | More activities | Shared innovation hubs |
Local businesses | New industries | Future jobs |
Housing | Affordable living | New ways of living |
Healthcare | Community wellbeing | Preventative health |
Your own idea... | Your own idea... | Your own idea... |
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Investigating & Defining
Collect evidence about your community from different sources. Look for challenges, opportunities and inspiring ideas.
If one of these challenges had been successfully addressed, what positive local news headline might appear?
You might include:
Community Challenge Evidence
Add pages as necessary
Investigating & Defining
Use the Morphological Matrix below to create different future ideas.
Choose one option from each column and combine them in different ways.
There are no right answers. Mix different ideas together to create something new.
You can also add your own ideas.
You can create your own combinations from these options for future possibilities on the next page.
Exploring Future Possibilities
Possible Solution | Future Technology | Inspired By... |
Helpful product | Artificial intelligence (AI) | Nature |
Community space | Smart materials | Native plants and animals |
Mobile app | Robots | Traditional Owner knowledge |
Community service | Sensors | Rivers, lakes or wetlands |
Community program | Drones | Forests and bushland |
Playground or recreation | Renewable energy | Local history |
Public space | Virtual or augmented reality | Local people |
Transport idea | 3D printing | Sporting clubs |
Learning experience | Internet of Things (IoT) | Schools |
Food or garden project | Wearable technology | Community organisations |
Event or festival | Digital maps | Existing buildings |
New way of sharing | Reused and repaired technology | Local materials |
Your own idea... | Your own idea... | Your own idea... |
Generating & Designing�
Use your research and morphological matrix to generate three different design ideas.
Your ideas could be a product, service, system, place or community initiative.
Sketch or describe each idea and add short notes explaining:
What it is
How it works
Who it helps
Why it could make a positive difference by 2040
Share your ideas with others and use their feedback to choose the concept you want to develop further.
My Future Ideas
Design Option #1 | ||
Possible Solution | Future Technology | Inspired By... |
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Design Option #2 | ||
Possible Solution | Future Technology | Inspired By... |
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Design Option #3 | ||
Possible Solution | Future Technology | Inspired By... |
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Share
Generating & Designing
Use this Design Brief Starburst template to identify specific things to focus on in your design project.
Design Brief
Choose one of the issues your group investigated to solve and identify the specific problem you are trying to solve
What specific problem are you trying to raise awareness of?
Who are you trying to help?
When will this be used?
Where will it be used?
Why is it needed?
How could it help?
What is the specific problem?
Who will you be helping?
Where will this be used?
Why is it needed?
How could it help?
What is the specific problem or opportunity you are hoping to address?
When will this be used?
Generating & Designing
Develop on a set of evaluation criteria that you will use throughout the design process to evaluate your design concepts.
Use information from your research and design brief starburst to identify 5 important requirements for your design concept.
You can use the following prompts to start your criteria.
It must …
It should…
It will…
Evaluation Criteria
(Example) It must help the local community
It will be used by…
Investigating & Defining
Find examples of products, services, places or community initiatives that address a challenge similar to yours.
Collect images, screenshots or notes, then annotate:
Examples: community garden, repair café, AI app, youth hub, flood-resilient park, shared transport, library of things.
Explore Existing Solutions
Add pages as necessary.
Investigating & Defining
Every community has people, places and resources that can help create positive change.
Identify existing community strengths that could support your design.
Think about local places, organisations, natural environments, businesses, technologies or community groups.
Complete relevant parts of the table by recording resources that could inspire or strengthen your future solution.
Helpful Community Resources
Add pages as necessary.
Ideas to Explore | People, places or resources that could be helpful |
Parks and open spaces | |
Rivers, beaches or bushland | |
Schools and learning spaces | |
Sporting clubs and recreation | |
Community groups or volunteers | |
Local businesses | |
Libraries or community centres | |
Public transport | |
Local industries or jobs | |
Events, markets or festivals | |
Historic buildings or landmarks | |
Renewable energy or environmental projects | |
Technology or makerspaces | |
Traditional Owner knowledge and local history | |
Other community strengths | |
Investigating & Defining
Use your research to explore your future solution.
Purple: Your community challenge or need.
Blue: The big ideas that could help solve it.
Red: Features, technologies and community resources that could support each idea.
Keep your ideas rough. Sketch, label and connect your thinking.
Exploring Design Possibilities
Add pages as necessary
Local bushland
AR wildlife challenges
Nature Adventure Trail
habitat restoration
Community
Challenge Need:
Young people don't spend enough time outdoors.
Generating & Designing
Develop your preferred design idea using sketches, diagrams or CAD.
Your solution could be a product, service, system, place or community initiative.
Add labels to explain:
Draw on paper or use CAD software if preferred.
Developing Your Future Solution: Page 1 of 3
Generating & Designing
Develop your preferred design idea using sketches, diagrams or CAD.
Your solution could be a product, service, system, place or community initiative.
Add labels to explain:
Draw on paper or use CAD software if preferred.
Developing Your Future Solution: Page 2 of 3
Generating & Designing
Develop your preferred design idea using sketches, diagrams or CAD.
Your solution could be a product, service, system, place or community initiative.
Add labels to explain:
Draw on paper or use CAD software if preferred.
Developing Your Future Solution: Page 3 of 3
Planning and Managing
Plan the steps needed to create the physical or digital assets that will communicate your future solution and support your Local News 2040 story.
Prototyping Proposed Future Solution
Add pages as necessary
Step | What will I create? | What will I need? |
1 | (Example: Physical Scale model) (Example: Digital model) | Card, glue�CAD software |
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Digital version in future
Prototype Your Future Solution!
Your task
Create the physical or digital assets that communicate your future solution.
Your prototype could include models, products, CAD, diagrams, branding, maps, storyboards, websites, apps or other visual evidence.
It does not need to be fully finished, but it should clearly show how your future solution works and how it improves your community.
As you build
Create Your Local News 2040 Story
Your task
Create a short newsreel segment that reports on your future solution as if it already exists in 2040.
Your segment might be 30 seconds to 2 minutes, depending on your class, group size and project.
Include
Part | What to include |
Headline | A short, positive news headline from 2040. |
Introduction | Introduce the local challenge or opportunity. |
Future Solution | Explain your product, service, system or place. |
Evidence | Show your prototype, models, diagrams, photos, animations or other visual assets. |
Community Impact | Explain how life has improved and who benefits. |
Closing | End with a memorable final statement or call back to your headline. |
As you create
Producing & Implementing
Imagine you are a journalist reporting on your community in 2040.
Write three positive news headlines about how your community has changed for the better.
Choose the one that best tells your Local News 2040 story.
What makes a good headline?
A good headline is:
Short and clear
Positive
Specific
Interesting
About your local community
Future Headlines
Examples
Create Three Headlines
Headline 1:
�
Headline 2:
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Headline 3:
Producing & Implementing
Plan your Local News 2040 story before you start filming and editing.
Sketch each scene and add short notes about what the audience will see and hear.
Your visuals could include filmed footage, photographs, AI-generated images or video, animations, diagrams, prototypes or CAD models.
Use your storyboard to plan the order of your scenes before creating and editing your final news story.
Storyboard
Scene | Visuals | Narration/Dialogue | Assets Needed |
1 | | | |
2 | | | |
3 | | | |
4 | | | |
5 | | | |
Producing & Implementing
Write a short script and begin creating your Local News 2040 story.
Film or generate the visuals you need, record narration or interviews, and collect any music, graphics or titles.
Keep your story clear, engaging and focused on how your future solution improves the community.
Edit your scenes into the correct order so your story clearly explains the challenge, your future solution and the positive impact it has on the community.
Suggested free software:
Production and Editing
Scene | Who? | Location | Equipment | Complete |
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Evaluating
Students watch everyone's stories.
Prompt discussion:
This could conclude with combining every segment into a single class news bulletin.
Local News 2040 Premiere & Reflection
Evaluation Criteria | Reflection |
My Criterion 1… | |
My Criterion 2… | |
My Criterion 3… | |
My Criterion 4… | |
My Criterion 5… | |
My story was clear and easy to follow. | |
My visuals helped communicate my future solution. | |
My news story was engaging and believable. | |
Evaluating
Watch the completed Local News 2040 newsreel with your class.
Discuss the different future ideas
Then complete the reflection table below.
Reflecting on Our Future Community
Reflection | Response |
What are the biggest benefits of living in this future community? | |
Would you want to live in this future community? Why or why not? | |
What challenges or unintended consequences might people experience? | |
Which future solution would have the biggest positive impact on the community? Why? | |
What could be improved to make this future community even better? | |
Feedback Rubric�
Design process stage | Below the Level | Working Towards the Level | At the Level | Above the Level |
Investigating & Defining | Identifies a community challenge or opportunity in a general way with limited explanation. Research is minimal or descriptive. | Identifies a clear community challenge or opportunity. Uses some research to explain the context or need. | Clearly explains a specific community challenge or opportunity. Research informs design decisions about people, place, technologies or community resources. | Insightfully explains a well-defined community challenge or opportunity. Research is purposeful and clearly shapes the design direction, community impact and future possibilities. |
Generating & Designing | Generates a small number of ideas with limited detail. Sketches or concepts are unclear or underdeveloped. | Generates multiple ideas. Uses sketches, diagrams or models to communicate basic features and functions. | Generates, tests and refines ideas using sketches, diagrams or models. Design decisions are explained using appropriate design language. | Generates and iterates ideas thoughtfully. Design concepts are clearly communicated, justified, and demonstrate creativity, innovation and consideration of future community impacts. |
Planning & Managing | Planning is incomplete or informal. Limited consideration of materials, tools, technologies, production or time. | Develops a basic plan outlining production steps, tools, technologies and resources. Some awareness of time and safety. | Develops and follows a clear plan. Selects appropriate tools, technologies and resources and manages time effectively. | Plans are detailed, flexible and well managed. Adjustments are made thoughtfully in response to challenges, feedback or changing ideas. |
Producing & Implementing | Produces limited prototype or media evidence that partially communicates the future solution. | Produces suitable prototypes, visual assets and a news story that communicate the future solution with some effectiveness. | Produces effective prototypes, visual assets and a clear Local News 2040 story that successfully communicates the future solution and its community impact. | Produces polished prototypes and engaging media that effectively communicate a believable future solution. High levels of care, creativity and technical skill are evident throughout. |
Evaluating | Makes simple statements about what worked or did not work. Limited reference to criteria, feedback or community impacts. | Evaluates the design against some criteria. Identifies strengths, areas for improvement and reflects on the final news story. | Evaluates the design against agreed criteria and feedback. Suggests realistic improvements and considers the impacts on the future community. | Critically evaluates the design's effectiveness, community impacts and future implications. Improvements are thoughtful and clearly linked to evaluation criteria, feedback and evidence. |