CHILDREN AS THE DESIGNERS OF THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE. INTEGRATING DESIGN THINKING IN PRIMARY EDUCATION

Authors

  • Katerina Kokkinaki PhD Candidate, West Attica University, Greece
  • Zoe Georgiadou Professor Dr., West Attica University, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v11i5.5278

Keywords:

design thinking, narrative art, sustainable art, school art, art in primary

Abstract

This research examines whether children can acquire aesthetics through design in their everyday lives. Students recycle their old school seats, following their own ideas. The aim of the project is for children to get to know sustainable design through a construction of their own and to work cooperatively, resulting in offering their work to the community. The study comes to answer if children can implement a design thinking project in primary school if they have the ability to become the designers of their own things if they can understand sustainability through design, and if they can work with the intention of offering their project to the community. Students develop thinking and life skills through design thinking, experimentation, and playful art, as well as through sensory and narrative design, two processes that are perfectly natural in the world of children. Participatory work in a collaborative community form helps the children to step outside themselves and acquire empathy for the rest of the school community.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Katerina Kokkinaki, PhD Candidate, West Attica University, Greece

    Katerina Kokkinaki is a graduate of the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2008) with a degree in painting and an Integrated Master’s degree from the same school. She is a graduate of the Interior Architecture Department of the School of Graphic Arts and Artistic Studies of West Attica University (2000). She is a PhD candidate from 2021 at the University of West Attica. She has taught art in primary and secondary schools for the last fifteen years, such as the Experimental Primary Schools of Piraeus and the Art School of Keratsini. As a visual artist, she has held three solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous group exhibitions, international art fairs, and experimental festivals. She participates in European projects and public opinion surveys. As a visual artist, she has held solo exhibitions and has participated in numerous group exhibitions, international art fairs, and experimental festivals.

  • Zoe Georgiadou, Professor Dr., West Attica University, Greece

    Zoe Georgiadou is a Professor of Interior Architecture, Department of Interior Architecture, Faculty of Applied Arts and Culture, University of West Attica. She holds PhD in Architecture and Sociology of Spaces (2001) and a BSc (with integrated MSc) as Architect Engineer (1986) from National Technical University of Athens and BA in Interior Designer (1980) from Technological Educational Institute of Athens. She has taught Interior Architecture and Sociology of spaces at the Department of Interior Architecture since 1981. She is elected academic director of the Laboratory of Design, Interior Architecture and Audiovisual Documentation of the Faculty of Applied Arts and Culture, University of West Attica. She is the Chief Editor of the peer-reviewed international e-journal Arts| Design| Culture, published by the Laboratory of Design and 5 European Universities. She is the author of five books, and several journal and conference articles. She has given invited lectures at universities and is an active member of social co-operations. She has been elected Dean of the Faculty of Applied Arts and Culture for the period 2010-2014.

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Published

2024-03-20

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 5 (2024)

Section

Articles

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