TCDSB Elementary School Design Workshops

Mikella Braganza

This service-learning initiative was developed by examining the unique way interior designers 'think' in order to come up with creative design solutions. Revolving around sharing the creative design process in an innovative manner, this project aimed to share strategies of design thinking with elementary-age children. Through assignments and personal observations, I noticed a duality in the way interior designers develop creative ideas. I incorporated these ideas into my project by creating fun informative art activities based on historical space use and the elements and principles of design.

The first activity had students create a 2D sketch which they turned into a 3D paper sculpture. In the second activity, students were guided to connect their lived experiences with the learning material to create floor plans that included spaces they deem essential. This process taught them about the various ways of solution-based thinking by promoting a design-focused process to build a stronger sense of creative understanding and knowledge of past versus present relationships with space use through public engagement.

Workshop Overview.