Embedded assumptions in design and Making projects with children

Abstract

Previous literature highlights the importance of teaching children design and Making skills. However, there are fundamental differences in projects engaging children in design and Making, concerning the objects and motives of design. They vary depending on whether one emphasizes participatory design, user centered design, Making philosophy or entrepreneurship education, among others. In the first two, the emphasis is on the appreciation and engagement with the user, who is seen as separable from the designer. The third one often starts with solving one's own problems while the fourth one prioritizes the customer. In this paper, we analyze the existing literature and three of our own design and Making projects with children. We reveal diversity in the projects reported in the literature and challenges among children in our projects in understanding the design goals and practices, particularly relating to designing for oneself versus designing for others. We propose a categorization for mapping and managing this diversity.