Making-be of expressions How making activities become material self-expressions supporting pre-schoolers’ well-being

Main Article Content

Antonia Clasina Södergren

Abstract

Although children’s inputs are actively implemented in co-creation processes, their young age calls on design researchers to apply deeper dimensions of sensitivity-in-practice to understand the voice of these very young participants. This study explores how a participatory design process can allow pre-schoolers to express their intuitive experiences of materials and demonstrate what they, using self-reliance, can do with these. This investigation is centred around materials and crafting to let children’s repertoire of expressions come forth rather than following the lead of adults. Two case studies incorporated pre-schoolers’ need for playful body sensory stimulations by triggering experimental aesthetic experiences in a three-step design process. Results identified a pre-schooler’s well-being and motivation for expression as linked to relations of self-awareness – the experience of having a role as an individual and as part of a group. Also, the distinct intuitive sensitivity of pre-schoolers to their environments resulted in understanding the meaning of free exploration of materials for child expressions in design research. This study contributes a dialogue tool mapping the sensations and connections of how children create tangible expressions as their ‘voice’. Further research should investigate improvements in well-being brought about by this tool in different high-risk groups with lower levels of well-being.

Article Details

Author Biography

Antonia Clasina Södergren, LAB Design for Play, Design School Kolding

Antonia holds a Master of Arts in Design Management and is finalizing 2022 her PhD. Her current project investigates how to safeguard pre-schoolers' unpredictable, intuitive play expressions while they, rather than adults, become capable, self-reliant protagonists of a design process. The overarching research interest is connecting design activities and playful material explorations to create design methods allowing individuals across ages and abilities to experience designerly activities supporting learning and well-being.

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