Design workshops are a fun way of thinking and solving all sorts of problems. It is an amazing way of bringing people together to interrogate topics, stimulate group intelligence, and solve problems through collaboration. In this case, I collaborated with the local authorities of Bouxwiller in France to offer high school students to redesign a public space.
Students were often hanging out on the theatre forecourt next to the school building, often leaving behind them rubbish such as cigarette ends and food wrappings. As the public authority wanted to forbid the place for students, I offered a different approach. Instead of behaving punitively, which might create more problems, why not invite those students to take responsibility for the place?
During one week, I led a group of students through the project of redesigning the forecourt by making wooden pallet furniture. Throughout the process, we had many opportunities to discuss the needs and requirements for a place to be comfortable and clean.
