Child-centric research/ design is the new buzzword in urban planning and design projects. Many agencies showcase their 'child friendliness' using participatory methods involving children (mostly classroom based workshops).
Is this approach effective in getting a project buy-in from the city or ensuring community participation/ interest?
if yes, what are the factors that influence the effectiveness?
is it mere tokenism, especially in third world nations where powerful actors are beyond influence?
In the UK anyone who works directly with Children under 18 yo has to have a criminal background check. Many of my dissertation students wanted to focus on the role of children in the city so had to find a way to indirectly engage children without being in physical contact as the background checks take about 4 months. Way around it was working with a school or local youth group and handing out disposable cameras for the youth to record their visions - worked great!
One of the my students was looking at patterns of child movement and design of public space as spaces of play. Another went into one of the communities of the 2011 London Riots to bring youth perspective into the underlying cause of the riots. Again - both worked with disposable cameras for youth to record - alternate could be youth using own phones to record and narrate video.
May 19, 20 9:01 am ·
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TED
If you are doing research within a university setting you should engage the Research Ethics Committee policy who may have a say on how you do ethical 'research' with children. The two examples above were undergraduate dissertations nevertheless we required the students to work to this 'do no harm' standard. This essay might be of interest.
something doesn’t have to be child friendly just because children participated in the design process. And also who decides what is child friendly? the child, the designer, the old lady down the street, the government?
Depends on the project. It could be a school board, the state government, building code, and the building owner. I don't think until you get into design spaces specifically for children (children's museum for example) that the designer really has much influence in the process.
May 19, 20 4:30 pm ·
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Role of children in participatory action research. Are they effective? Opinions / Views
Child-centric research/ design is the new buzzword in urban planning and design projects. Many agencies showcase their 'child friendliness' using participatory methods involving children (mostly classroom based workshops).
Is this approach effective in getting a project buy-in from the city or ensuring community participation/ interest?
if yes, what are the factors that influence the effectiveness?
is it mere tokenism, especially in third world nations where powerful actors are beyond influence?
You need to define the concept of 'child - centric' design further before anyone can answer your questions.
What is 'child-centric' design?
Elements are appropriate scale for children?
ADA for children?
Improved wayfinding using colors and textures?
Improved visibility and security?
Staff training in dealing with children's philology and though process?
Better availability of social services for children?
Improved education for children?
Some of these things can be addressed throughout architecture, others cannot.
In the UK anyone who works directly with Children under 18 yo has to have a criminal background check. Many of my dissertation students wanted to focus on the role of children in the city so had to find a way to indirectly engage children without being in physical contact as the background checks take about 4 months. Way around it was working with a school or local youth group and handing out disposable cameras for the youth to record their visions - worked great!
One of the my students was looking at patterns of child movement and design of public space as spaces of play. Another went into one of the communities of the 2011 London Riots to bring youth perspective into the underlying cause of the riots. Again - both worked with disposable cameras for youth to record - alternate could be youth using own phones to record and narrate video.
If you are doing research within a university setting you should engage the Research Ethics Committee policy who may have a say on how you do ethical 'research' with children. The two examples above were undergraduate dissertations nevertheless we required the students to work to this 'do no harm' standard. This essay might be of interest.
something doesn’t have to be child friendly just because children participated in the design process. And also who decides what is child friendly? the child, the designer, the old lady down the street, the government?
Depends on the project. It could be a school board, the state government, building code, and the building owner. I don't think until you get into design spaces specifically for children (children's museum for example) that the designer really has much influence in the process.
Block this user
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