Senior Project - Doodle Design Lab for Children by Jordana Dall'Igna

VANCOUVER, BC | 6,144 SF | INSTITUTIONAL DESIGN The Doodle Design Lab for Kids is a private commercial project of a design school for children (5-14 years old) interested in an after-school hands-on design experience. The property is located at 2060, Pine Street between West 4th & West 5th AvenueThe Doodle Design Lab for Kids aims to create a supportive environment for children to create and learn thru design. Its main goal is to preserve and protect children's freedom of thinking, neuroplasticity, natural cognitive skills, spontaneity and self-confidence. Children spent a big part of their childhood listening to "no's".. Don't go up there", "Don't paint your sun in blue", "Don't climb the furniture", "Don't run", etc. However, consistently saying no to children can be harmful. Kids need the opportunity to explore different places and try new things - that's fundamental for their development as human beings. What if children could be in a space where they could just follow their instincts? This process benefits children in several ways, such as equipping them with self-awareness, confidence and design-thinking tools. The Doodle Lab design concept is based on the Memphis Group - a creative movement founded by Ettore Sottsass and its designer friends in 1978. The movement reflected a reaction against 1960s modernism and 1970s minimalism. Memphis challenged notions of conventional good taste and was designed to provoke an emotional response, focused on being loud, brash, spirited, playful, and colourful - any resemblance with children is not purely coincidental.