The project initiative Childish Studio is a designer collective based in Berlin, focusing on creating positive changes for children and teenagers. Our main interest lies in developing spaces, activities, methods, and tools for creativity, curiosity, and playful learning.
In an era of educational transformation, Patana International School Bangkok students explore their alma mater's future aspirations through visual storytelling. Through diverse mediums, they articulate visions, probing twenty design questions to reimagine classrooms and technology's role. Their creations form a rich tapestry, connecting them deeply with their school community.
The project "Explorations of Play in Lieberose: Past, Present, and Future" delves into the evolution of play opportunities within Lieberose. Commencing with a workshop in the Lieberose Castle Gardens in November, this study extends to ongoing community initiatives that aim to transform the city's approach to play, fostering creativity and community engagement.
In collaboration with the PASCH initiative, the Goethe-Institut Indonesia hosts a photography competition and workshops titled "My School Through My Eyes," engaging students across Indonesia. Participants capture their schools' essence through photography, attend skill-enhancing workshops, and showcase their work in an online exhibition, fostering appreciation for educational environments.
The workshop fosters sustainability awareness in young children through experiential learning and play-based education. By integrating recycling concepts into playful activities, it aims to bridge theory and practice, promoting environmental responsibility from an early age. It explores the impact of play on sustainability understanding and behavior, addressing key questions to inform early childhood education strategies.
The workshop at ECV Bordeaux, led by Irvandy Syafruddin and Jonas Schulte (Berlin-based Art Director), emphasized self-publishing, storytelling, and fostering a sense of belonging among young design students. Active participation in self-publishing projects expanded participants' design skills and enhanced their societal awareness. The workshop culminated in an exhibition where the participants showcased their self-published zines.
"Shadow Play" is a collaborative initiative engaging children in Gothenburg's historical legacy. From April to June 2021, Gathenhielmska Huset, Lekkontoret, facilitated child-led explorations of the historical house, using mapping, storytelling, and play to uncover its secrets. The project fostered a sense of ownership and belonging among young residents, culminating in an exhibition showcasing their interpretations of the city cultural heritage.
A research project initiated in 2008, delves into international playground history. Serving as the foundation for The Playground Project, an evolving exhibition blending history, research, and interactive play spaces, it has offered insights into the evolution of playgrounds and their significance in shaping childhood experiences worldwide. More info
Lekkontoret (Swedish for Play Office) is a children’s design ‘office’ that aims to increase child influence in the city through participatory design projects. The team work on design briefs in Gothenburg’s public places and cultural institutions, hoping to give children sustained opportunities to practice participation so that they can be understood and acknowledged as competent and engaged citizens in their city.
Explore the MFA Programme in Child Culture Design at the University of Gothenburg. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, students investigate design from children's perspectives. With a practical curriculum and dynamic arts community, graduates significantly contribute to socially sustainable design practices. Instagram / MFA program
Childish Studio, established in 2020 by Irvandy Syafruddin and Tina Lehnhardt, embodies a commitment to exploring the educational and playful dimensions of design. Our projects are characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that fosters collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including children, artists, designers, architects, planners, researchers, and urban practitioners.
At the core of our projects are design interventions and workshops aimed at engaging children in creative exploration and empowering them to shape their environments. These workshops serve as platforms for children to actively participate in assessing their local communities, articulating improvement priorities, and contributing their ideas to design processes. Through hands-on, experimental sessions across various mediums, including art, storytelling, and play, children are encouraged to express themselves freely and creatively.
One of our key methodologies involves employing action research techniques to deepen our understanding of children's perspectives on their residential environments. By listening to their grievances, recommendations for change, and reflections on the impact of participatory processes, we gain valuable insights that inform the design process.
Central to our philosophy is the belief that the design process should be inclusive and reflective of democratic principles. We advocate for the active involvement of children in decision-making processes related to their surroundings, ensuring that their voices are heard and their needs are considered. This approach not only fosters a sense of ownership and belonging among children but also leads to more innovative and sustainable design solutions.
This project aims to educate children about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through engaging gameplay, enabling them to grasp the goals' significance in their lives. Through interactive activities, children explore how they can actively contribute to achieving these goals by 2030 and develop solutions for global issues like poverty and climate change. The project fosters a sense of responsibility and global citizenship from an early age, inspiring young individuals to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond.
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