The role of Co-creation
The role of co-creation is what it simply means to create together. A way to develop cities and designs where the individuals who use the space or product are part of the design thinking process. It is inclusive design. An approach where the youth of the city actively takes part in the design making of a site or a project where they are able to relay their views so that their voices are heard and also it becomes a design which people of all ages can enjoy. Projects and concepts like this help children in team work, design understanding, creative thinking, practical thinking.
Growing up Boulder
“Growing Up Boulder’s vision is to make Boulder an exemplary child- and youth-friendly city. Growing Up Boulder’s mission is to empower Boulder’s young people with opportunities for inclusion, influence, and deliberation on local issues that affect their lives.”- growingupboulder.org
1. Ensure meaningful opportunities for young people’s participation in Boulder decision-making.
2. Make Boulder a more inclusive place for children and youth of all income levels, ethnicities and abilities.
3. Give GUB partners a voice in setting the direction of GUB projects.
4. Disseminate lessons learned from GUB to the community (Boulder-at-large, youth, academics, GUB partners, other child-friendly city communities).
PROJECTS:
Boulder’s redesigned civic area
In the year of 2012 Boulder’s civic area was part of a major re development by the City of Boulder. This area which is in the south of the city includes the main public library, public buildings of the municipality, museums, central park and green way. Fall of 2014 GUP worked alongside children and youth to come up with a re design for the Civic Area.
– 60 3rd graders at Whittier International Elementary School
– 18 10th graders in a Boulder High School Advancement via Individual Determinism (AVID) Class
– 21 Casey Middle School students in an applied science elective
– GUB staff, interns, graduate students, and visiting graduate students
Valmont City Park
In the year of 2008 a concept plan was developed for the Valmont City Park. GUP took part in this process where they brought middle school and high school youth from YMCA’s University Hill, Crestview Elementary programs and the Youth Services Initiative (YSI) to come up with ideas for the project.
YMCA youth envisioning a new park; Photo Stephen Cardinale
“Data was gathered using different methods with each group. YMCA children were engaged with a Co-design activity during a field-trip to the site, where they created drawings of playgrounds in an imaginary newly developed park. YSI activities took place using photovoice during a field-trip to the site, and using a visual preference survey at the YSI meeting space at Salberg Park facilities. Parents of participating youth were interviewed at an informal social gathering for Dia de los Niños at the Manhattan housing site. Although responses varied between and within each group, two major themes that were present and highly prevalent for all three groups were nature and play, while two other themes, transport and food were mostly a concern of the older groups of youth and parents.”- Growing up boulder
11th Street Corridor, Hill redevelopment project
Photo by Erika Chavarria
In fall of 2017, fourth grade students from Flatirons elementary in the 11th street corridor, Hill redevelopment project where the students developed creative ideas to make the 11th street corridor a safe space and for all kinds of ages. Students went through a eight week process involving site analysis, precedent projects and presentation to the city. This project gave the city a better insight towards how to design or make a space which are child friendly, safe and can used by people of any age group.
Common themes that came up with the students were :
- Beautification of Space
- Interactive Activities and Art
- Safety for Children and Families
- Environmental Consciousness
- Pedestrian friendly Spaces
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