3 Design Trends Shaping Ohio’s Next-Gen Schools

As schools across Ohio reimagine the future of learning, design is emerging as a key driver of student success. At Maraye Design Studio, we believe learning environments should do more than contain education—they should catalyze it.

Backed by research and informed by our recent projects, here are three powerful design trends shaping next-generation schools:

🔁 Flexible Learning Environments
Gone are the days of fixed desks and rigid layouts. Today’s classrooms are adaptable ecosystems—spaces that shift from lecture to collaboration to quiet study. At Wright State and Columbus State, we’ve reimagined classrooms to be fluid, inclusive, and responsive to how students really learn.

💻 Technology Integration
Modern learning demands modern tools. From VR-ready makerspaces to robust Wi-Fi and interactive displays, Ohio’s schools are becoming tech-powered learning hubs. At OSU’s Hagerty Hall, we transformed analog spaces into digitally enabled classrooms that support hybrid instruction and innovation.

🌿 Designing for Well-Being & Inclusion
Students thrive when they feel safe, comfortable, and seen. Our work integrates biophilic design, trauma-informed principles, and universal accessibility. At the Columbus State Early Childhood Center, playful design and child-centered details create a space where every learner feels at home.

🏫 Thoughtful design isn’t a luxury—it’s a strategy. When we invest in flexible, tech-rich, and inclusive spaces, we’re investing in student success.

👉 Let’s shape the future of learning, one space at a time.