Playful Design: Developing a Facilitated Design Method for Children
Translated title
Playful Design: Udvikling af en Facilitated Design metode for børn
Authors
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-06-07
Abstract
There are different approaches for including children in the generative phases of a design process, i.e. when ideas and concepts are developed. Yet, there is a lack of methods that both ensure that children's desires are part of the final product and are applicable to the industry, where resources are small. In order to fill this gap, we developed a low-resource Facilitated Design method, where children are the sole designers, and adults only facilitate. We did this by taking our starting point in the Future Technology Workshop and iterated on this method in order to make this Facilitated Design method suit 8-9 year old children's capabilities and ensure a useful outcome. We recruited 37 children through schools in Aalborg for three iterations in total. Following each iteration, we evaluated both process and outcome, after which we modified the method in attempt to improve it for next iteration. We implemented scaffolding techniques, motivation initiatives, and agreement tasks, among other initiatives. The final Facilitated Design method consists of Imagineering (brainstorming functions), Sketching (inventing a product concept), and Activity Generation (developing play activities for product concept). The method is applicable for the industry and ensures that children's desires are part of the final product. The method suits children's capabilities, yet, it is still possible to improve tasks to create a better outcome.
Keywords
Documents