Design Squad Global (DSG) is a PBS Kids show produced by GBH, the nation’s largest PBS content provider.
The show introduces young people to engineering as a tool for solving real-world problems in their communities, highlighting stories of youth around the world building creative solutions, from clean water systems to homemade propulsion devices.
While the mission was strong, GBH saw an opportunity to deepen DSG’s appeal and engagement with youth audiences, and bring new energy to the series.
The show was strong on its own merit. The young people featured were solving real problems in creative and meaningful ways.
But beyond the episodes, there was no singular expression that captured and celebrated their work in a way that felt broadly appealing or culturally relevant to young audiences.
They didn’t need more content. They needed connection.
Music, as a universal language across cultures, offered a way to translate the spirit of the show into something that could resonate more deeply and travel farther.
I partnered with a local production company of GBH’s choosing to write and co-produce a theme song and music video for the show.
The writing process involved multiple rounds of review with the Design Squad Global team and production partners, sometimes leaning toward a more formal, institutional tone. I worked to maintain a voice that felt culturally relevant, ensuring the final product felt like authentic expression rather than formal education.
To reflect DSG’s global footprint, we collaborated with a South African singer who had appeared on The Voice South Africa. Together, we translated the chorus into Zulu, with me performing the English version alongside her Zulu translation.
The production incorporated Zulu musical elements, resulting in a song that was both musically and lyrically multinational.
Engineer Our Tomorrow became the official theme song of Design Squad Global, extending the show’s reach beyond its episodes into a culturally relevant, shareable format.
Released on DSG’s YouTube channel (1M+ subscribers), the song and video gave the series a unifying expression of its mission. It celebrates youth ingenuity and engineering across cultures around the world.
