Realising participatory design with children and young people: a case study of design and refurbishment in schools

12 case studies of a consultation period of the design and refurbishment of nursery, primary and secondary schools, will be used to to gain knowledge and understanding of participatory design practices with children and young people.

Schools are challenging environments, having to address the needs and requirements of many diverse groups. The Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme is seen by many as a way of addressing the problems of out of date building stock. It is also an opportunity for children and young people to have a real voice in the design of an environment which should enable then to achieve their full potential.

The case studies conducted in rural, town and inner city schools will enable the identification of models and methods used in consultation and requirement specification phases. From this we will be able to elucidate common practices amongst designers, understand how children and other stakeholders feel about their input and whether recommendations were embodied in the final design.

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