Amy Parness and Ariel Churi
Amy Parness and Ariel Churi
Founders
Sparkle Labs
Innovative design firm Sparkle Labs was first born out of an idea of empowering people as creators--not just as consumers. “Everybody touches technology almost all day long,” explains co-founder Amy Parness. “People have these super computers in their pockets. The next generation should know how to program and manipulate these devices.” Co-founders Amy Parness and Ariel Churi first met while studying at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunication’s Program, when the two found a common love for design, science, and technology. Armed with the idea that a sound knowledge of technology and how things work was crucial for the coming generation--especially for younger girls who are often discouraged away from science fields at an early age--the two designed an eye-catching building kit designed to teach people the basics of electronics. And thus started Sparkle Labs out of their Nolita, New York apartment.
“Sparkle Labs in the beginning was filling an educational void where there was nothing approachable for young girls, based on our branding and a more visual approach to learning,” says Amy. But though the beautifully colorful kits are children-friendly, their learning potential extends well outside the younger level classrooms. Sparkle Labs’ kits are now being used everywhere from the high school physics class to the MIT engineering intro courses, and popularizing tactile, do-it-yourself teaching methods. And as technology keeps advancing, the kits are bound to be ever more useful, equipping kids and adults alike knowledge, so that everyone has the chance to be an innovator and an inventor.