A design workshop can be a great participatory way of thinking and solving all sorts of problems. By bringing people together, it enables group intelligence to resolve all sorts of challenges through collaboration. Here, I collaborated with the local authorities of Bouxwiller in France to offer high school students to redesign a public space using recycled materials.
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 for the community.
