Design that contributes to the safety and peace of mind of children, design that opens up the future and creativity is known as “Kids Design”, and is garnering growing interest. At this year’s Design Activities and Projects Promotion Committee Design Education Projects Section, as a proposal to utilize local design organizations’ power, we put into practice a talent training/education program. Targeting the general public, beginning with families, this project aimed to improve the design power of the next generation by offering opportunities for children to use their own hands to make things, as well as opportunities to experience the design skills of designers, by holding exhibitions, a symposium and a family workshop related to Kids Design.

Organizer: Creative Design City Nagoya Organizing Committee (Constituent organizations: City of Nagoya, International Design Center NAGOYA Inc., Council of Chubu Design Organizations)

Kids Design 2010: #1 Space Design

In A Chapter on Space Design, we held a symposium and exhibition with the goal of further awakening and inspiring concern and interest for Kids Design. In the exhibition, with the themes of  “Kids Design” and “Aesthetic Education for Kids through Space Design”, there were panel displays of proposals and objects, descriptions of the activities of the Design Activities and Project Promotion Committee, explanations of products directed towards kids, and exhibitions.  Then, during the symposium, there was a talk session among experts involved in design for children or aesthetics training, beginning with the introduction of the activities of the committee of the Japanese Society of Commercial Space Designers SODA that targeted various local elementary schools.The Society of Commercial Space Designers carries out aesthetics education through experiences in space design such as shop design and model making.

Kids Design 2010: #1 Space Design
Exhibition: Wed., February 10 2010 – Mon., February 15 2010 (Design Gallery)

Symposium: Mon.,February 15 2010 (Atrium, Nadya Park)
Exhibition: Seeds of Design – Design with Kids, Design for Kids（Event Schedule）
Symposium: Design with Kids, Design for Kids（Event Schedule）

Kids Design 2010: #2 Product Design

Following the plan of these two members of the Chubu block, the Chubu Design Association (CDA) and the Japan Industrial Designer’s Association (JIDA), we held a design exhibition and a workshop for families. At the design exhibition were displayed Kids Design objects created by members of CDA and JIDA as well as by students of twelve colleges that are members of CDA and JIDA in the educational realm.  On the Sunday during the exhibition period, a family design workshop was held. Targeting kids from 4 to 12 and their parents/guardians, this design workshop provided hands-on experiences for the family. A lottery was held to choose ten groups for every lecture, for a total of 50 groups of participants. Maximum student: lecturer ratio was 8:1.

Kids Design 2010: #2 Product Design
Exhibition: Wed.,February 17 2010 – Mon., February 22 2010 (Design Gallery)

Family Design Workshop: Sun., February 21 2010 (Atrium, Nadya Park)
Lecture Synopses
1: Making Taketombo (Japanese traditional bamboo flying toys)
2: Making a Giant Vinyl Balloon and Climbing Inside
3: Making Animals
4: Making Hand Casts
5: Making Toys out of Hinoki (Japanese cypress)
Educators & Students Kids Design Projects Exhibition（Event Schedule）
Family Design Workshop（Event Schedule）

 
Photo:
(Left) Exhibition: Seeds of Design – Design with Kids, Design for Kids
(Right) Educators & Students Kids Design Projects Exhibition

(First appearance: IdcN Annual Report 2009 (June 2010)*Edited)