One of the most inspiring parts of my research has been discovering how many projects already involve children as active contributors to playground design
The article “Children as Co-Designers” from Playground Research presents several examples where children are invited into the design process long before construction begins. Instead of asking children whether they like a finished playground, designers involve them in workshops, drawing sessions, storytelling activities, model making, and discussions about how they imagine play. These activities allow children to express ideas that adults might never consider.
One thing that stood out to me is that children rarely describe playgrounds in terms of equipment. Adults often ask questions such as “Do you want a bigger slide?” or “Should we add another swing?” Children, however, often talk about experiences. They imagine places for adventure, hiding, climbing, discovering, building, making friends, or inventing stories. This difference shows why simply asking children what equipment they want may not be enough.
Another interesting idea comes from the Design Council’s systemic design approach. The report argues that design problems should not be viewed as isolated objects but as systems involving many stakeholders, relationships, and long-term effects. Playground design is a perfect example of this. Children, parents, municipalities, schools, designers, safety regulations, and local communities all influence the final outcome. If one stakeholder is missing—especially children—the system becomes incomplete.
Rather than interviewing children in a formal way, designers create playful activities that feel like games instead of research. This inspired many of the low-fidelity prototypes I have been developing, where children use cards, stickers, drawings, and playful prompts instead of long verbal explanations.
One important lesson I learned is that participation is not simply asking children for opinions. It is about designing methods that allow them to communicate in ways that feel natural, enjoyable, and appropriate for their age. Good co-design is less about collecting answers and more about creating opportunities for children to share their imagination.
References
Design Council. (2021). Beyond Net Zero: A Systemic Design Approach. https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/fileadmin/uploads/dc/Documents/Beyond%2520Net%2520Zero%2520-%2520A%2520Systemic%2520Design%2520Approach.pdf
Playground Research. (n.d.). Children as Co-Designers. https://playgroundresearch.org/children-as-co-designers/
Playground Research. (n.d.). Playground Research. https://playgroundresearch.org/
IDEO U. (2020). What is Co-Design? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2_6ozX4G_M&t=40s
Participatory Design Foundation. (Video). Participatory Design Process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PDWzPtpCZ8
