As designers we are just passengers, the community is the expert. Community participation is essential to design places that work for all.
As a teacher & architect, it is my strength to distill the underlying motives of children, teenagers and adults, via made-to-measure activities.
Participation: All different stakeholders share their views, experiences, dreams or needs. Together we uncover their own, community-based set of requirements.
In greening schoolyards, we first teach children climate-lessons about the local climate challenges, and they learn the theory of play. This knowledge forms the basis for true co-design!
Secondly we co-design with children /community. We draw, measure, craft, and prototype. How to combine climate adaptation with our wished functions? It is especially the conversations during the design activities that offers the most input. We take all the ideas seriously, they inspire us with amazing, innovative ideas.
Thirdly, if possible we co-construct: if children, community craftsmen, parents, local experts, build together, a true community place is born. With our co-maintainance program children learn to take care of their natural environment.
We turn Grey spaces Green in a Golden process: watch this one minute video Space for Play – Grey Green Gold! about our process.
Previous participation processes
Participation GAME:
Children, teenagers, elderly, parents ~
too many different opinions?
In this game they share, listen, categorize and deliver a shared set of requirements.
Children as architects for their own play area’s!
With Right to Play and Jantje Beton we have set up a child-centered design method.
Renovation of the play area?
Children can analyse their own spaces best. Insightful, practical and inspirational output ensured.
1. Cool climate lessons (rain/ heat)
2. Analysis of their own surroundings
3. Co-designing + dialogue
4. Tiles out, plants in: a life lasting learning experience
Real life imagination challenge!
Difficult to imagine what your area could look like? Participants draw their ideas directly on the area!
Pedagogical aspects of child participation.
How to create balanced interaction?
Please do not ask children “what play-element would you like?”
A different approach will clarify the true underlaying needs and dreams.
Crafts as participatory design?
Great! But not without dialogue:
How to use creative activities in a useful way?
We need your opinion!
How to challenge children
to give their honest opinion?
Incorporate children’s vision within your city
Their unconventional ideas break through policy-borders.
We have created hundreds of participatory design methods.
What participation would serve your school’s / community’s goals best?
Let’s think about it.