History Design Lab

History Design Lab projects typically deviate from the standard history paper or research project to focus on innovative ways to answer questions about history. These approaches range from digital humanities to exhibit design, oral history, podcasts, historical fiction, and public history.  The lab brings together interested students of any major with faculty and staff from History and other departments who support and mentor their work. 

Explore the History Design Lab 

The History Design Lab offers a unique opportunity to build community through learning, mentoring, and support. Collectively, the students, faculty, and staff brainstorm ideas while also adding expertise to troubleshoot any issues that arise in the development of a project.

The lab meets weekly to workshop projects, discuss new ideas, and learn new approaches to designing projects about history. Participation in the lab is open to anyone who wishes to be involved.

The History Design Lab hosts a blog that features posts authored by participants in the lab and publishes an annual print journal, On Second Thought. 

Past and Current projects include:

• African American Women Intellectuals Project
• Oberlin History as American History Project
• History Design Lab blog and journal, On Second Thought
• The Shirley Graham Dubois Project
• Abusua Oral History Project
• Digitizing American Feminisms  (Created by Carol Lasser)
• Early DC Courts

Anyone who is interested in participating or learning more should contact Professor of History Renee Romano at rromano@oberlin.edu.

Follow us on twitter: @OberlinDHL