Isthmus associate landscape architect Damian Powley makes a case for why children should be involved in the design process for most architectural sites – not just playgrounds and schools.

At Isthmus, we regularly ignore the advice of actor W.C Fields who famously said, “Never work with animals or children”. While working with children as part of the design process can be hard work and not part of our norm, it is hugely beneficial, and incredibly rewarding.

We love our tamariki. We celebrate their enthusiasm and innocence – and their tendency to state the obvious. Kids (thankfully) don’t get caught up in the drama of adulthood. They are fresh, honest, and not afraid to speak their mind. For a group often overlooked in the design process, inquisitive kids often make the task more profound, real, and honest. Perhaps the question is not should we involve kids, but how can we involve kids more in a meaningful design process?

We need to design a playground – great! Let’s ask some kids...

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