Wellesley College's Robotic Design Studio introduces liberal arts students to the essence of engineering. Participants learn how to design, assemble, and program robots made out of LEGO parts, sensors, motors, and small embedded computers. The course has no prerequisites and, since its inception in 1996, has attracted students from a wide range of backgrounds. This monthlong experience culminates in a robot exhibition where students show off their working robots.

Robotic Design Studio represents an alternative vision of how robot design can be used to teach engineering in a way that is more inclusive and provides more room for artistic expression than contest-centered formats.