CASE
Children shaping the future
The future doesn´t just happen, it needs to be built! The shared goal of the Design Museum, Ornamo and City of Helsinki is to enhance the design skills of children and young people. Creative problem-solving and the associated interdisciplinary thinking that combines various fields of knowledge are becoming increasingly crucial skills for children and young people. This skill enables them to adapt to change, solve complex problems, make informed decisions, stand out, create new products and services and shape their environment. The key message for children and young people is that the future doesn´t simply unfold - it must be built together.
In the fall of 2023, a multidisciplinary project took place at school, where middle and high school students were taught creative problem-solving. It was applied in a project to find solutions to how South Helsinki could be developed into a more communal and experiential place, taking into account various stakeholders. The project involved a service designer, landscape architect, teachers, and students from different grade levels. The Design Museum provided an excellent setting for planning and inspiration. Working with children and young people is incredibly rewarding. The needs and ideas for future innovations come from them. The key is to listen carefully and facilitate problem-solving in a way that suits the children´s world. The goal is to create an experience for children that they are part of a larger meaning and have the ability to imagine and implement solutions for their own lives.
THE KEY QUESTIONS OF MITTE’S CUSTOMERS:
How could we teach creative problem-solving in schools?
How can children learn more about participatory design?
How can children develop the skills to solve future challenges?
How might children design sustainable solutions and foster community engagement around them?
How can we engage children in the planning of solutions?
TOOLS
Strategic design
Teaching and co-creating
