Design education for children in a community of practice: a case study of the participatory design workshops for school renovation

Abstract

This is a case study of design education for secondary school students through design workshops in the basic curriculum at a school in Japan. There was a renovation plan for a 30-years-old school building, and the education board of the town wished to make the new school much nicer and child-friendly for learning environments. The board asked design professionals to become involved and organized some workshops for students. Eight workshops were held during one and a half years. Workshops were designed for Eighth graders who had no design training, based on the basic skills of design; sketching, collage, measurement own body scale and use them. Gradually it was extended to further skills and knowledge including brainstorming, discussion, and presentation skills. At the end, students designed three kinds of multi-purposed units and the process of workshops was awarded the “Kids Design award 2012”, and the “Good Design Award 2012”.