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June 17, 2024
Belgrade

Next Gen Kids at Mikser Festival: Urban Spaces Through Children’s Eyes

Imagine a city where every child’s voice is heard, where their ideas shape the spaces they play, learn, and grow in. This vision came to life at the Mikser Festival through the innovative “Designathon workshop: How to improve the space for free time using circular design?” workshop, part of the Next Gen Design program at Mikser Festival, Belgrade.

On the 25th of May, for three and a half hours at Dorcol Platz, the youngest residents of Belgrade, children between the ages of 12 and 15, gathered to rethink urban spaces using circular design principles. Our mission was clear: to empower children to envision their ideal spaces for free time in the city. The big question we posed: What would cities look like if children had a say in their creation?

With over one billion children living in urban areas worldwide, it’s crucial to understand their perspective. How do they navigate the lack of green spaces, traffic congestion, pollution, and the isolation of high-rise living? Our workshop aimed to uncover these insights and more.

A Journey of Creativity and Innovation

The Designathon workshop was a blend of guided conversation, hands-on design, and creative problem-solving. Children designed 3D models of their ideal spaces, recorded videos presenting the challenges they face, and explored the concept of circular design.

Using the Designathon method, rooted in design thinking and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, participants tackled environmental challenges through prototyping. Equipped with recycled materials, plaster, diverse paper types, and various glues, pens, and tools, they worked in small teams or individually to bring their visions to life.

As explained by Tijana Jovanović Petrović the mentor of the Next Gen Kids workshop,

“All the spaces in the city are either designed for adults or for very young children. So, we wanted to ask young people what they think and which spaces in their area can be improved to better suit their interests and needs for spending free time. We used the Designathon method for this. First, the children reflected on the topic of free time and how they currently spend it. They then researched how circular design could be applied to create spaces that follow its principles. This process allowed them to consider the needs of their surroundings and think about how their local areas could be improved.”

This transformative experience was brought to life by the KidHub team from Belgrade, who are champions of creative learning aimed at solving environmental and social challenges. Led by Tijana Jovanović Petrović, an expert in co-creative educational initiatives, the team guided children through the process of designing sustainable solutions for their communities.

The Designathon workshop at Mikser Festival is more than just an event—it is a movement. A movement towards cities that reflect the needs and dreams of their youngest residents. A movement that empowers the next generation to take an active role in creating a better world.

Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved with the Next Gen Design Project. Together, let us build a future where every child has a place to thrive and nourish creativity.