The conversation about innovation in education includes advocates, academics, policymakers and community leaders who all care very deeply about the future of education. There continues to be a lively debate going on across a broad spectrum of perspectives about where we are, how we got here and how best to transform education. What's missing in this conversation is the voice that matters most: the voice of the student. To hear this voice you must tune into a different channel – one that most institution and policymaking bodies do not understand.

With this mission, the Lab created an “experience map” of the environmental and human factors that are the most significant drivers of the college student experience. The Lab's design researchers used observational and ethnographic research, in conjunction with secondary research drawn from the world's best education innovators, to illustrate the experience of current, former and prospective students at various ages and from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Working with students at more than 40 schools across the country, we gathered thousands of data points related to their academic, personal and financial experiences. We captured their story using video, audio, photography and narrative to shine a new light on the human, environmental and systems-level factors that have the most significant impact on student success.

The team also interviewed dozens of education experts and advocates from all sides of the debate and identified academic and scholarly research that provides important historical context to understanding the current student experience.

What did we find? Students are making decisions with tragically little information about their options or the long-term consequences of their choices. Students are maxing out on debt and uncertain how to turn their dreams into a fulfilling career. And, schools are struggling to deliver affordable services that meet demand. To educate Americans at the scale and speed that we need, we must aggressively explore and experiment with new solutions that enable more students to get the education they deserve.

Explore the themes, insights and student video stories here.