Taken literally a fence in some cases may seem impractical or unnecessary as it can actually reduce the chance for casual interaction. On the other hand the mai
ntaining of a fence may provide some neighbours the opportunity to regularly communicate with each other.
“Good fences make good neighbours”
Designing for Children
Recently spent time with a landscape designer who works building play areas for children. What became clear to me is the play structure business is focused on selling adults, not kids. All the catalogs look the same. Furthermore, children are often not interested in structures that can only do or be one thing. Next time you are at a playground look at how the children are playing. Are they using the whole thing?
To overcome these challenges this designer is engaging children directly. Through design workshops they are letting the children design the play yard of their dreams with paper. Amazing things are created when children’s ideas are not bounded by teachers, or parents.
My take away from this presentation is to take seriously the ideas of the people that will use what we are creating. And make special effort to include ideas for our youngest and most brilliant minds.
