Designing for Children's Best
Designing for Children's Best
D4CR Association
All about designing what is best for children. Ethical, enabling design discussed by design industry and academia stars. A show curated by D4CR - Designing for Children's Rights International Association - designingforchildrensrights.org Have a look at the D4CR Design Guide - ⁠https://childrensdesignguide.org/⁠  *** Acknowledgments *** Podcast team - Leyla Nasib & Polina Lulu, D4CR logo by Anna Puura, Podcast visual by Alona Lazarenko, Podcast music by Daniel Fokin
After what kids think: visiting Harriet, 13, in Sweden
Our next stop: Stockholm, where Harriet, 13, turns the tables—reflecting on what it's like to watch adults try to understand teenagers! We talk about creative freedom, complexity in games, representation, and unethical monetization strategies.Harriet is intelligent, funny, sharp, and a wonderful reminder of why continuous open dialog with children is a must for child-centered design! This season is all about curiosity diving into what each child knows, feels, and thinks about the topics we usually discuss as adults in the field. And we are so grateful we started this journey!*** Host***Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters***⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠D4CR Association⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠
Feb 24
30 min
After what kids think: visiting Alex, 11, in England
We're staying in England for one more conversation,—this time with Alex, 11, Wren's brother. We talk about motivation, choices, bias, interactive boards, Shakespeare’s spelling skills, the fast pace of modern childhood and—as our guest beautifully sums it—“cultural developments of life”.Alex is brilliant at expressing thoughts with confidence and virtuous authenticity. It's a conversation between equals with surprising twists and insights. This season is all about listening closely to what each child knows, feels, and thinks about the topics we usually discuss as adults in the field. And this has been wonderful so far!*** Host***Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters***⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠D4CR Association⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter⁠⁠
Jul 11, 2025
33 min
After what kids think: visiting Wren, 8, in England
Our next stop: England — meet Wren, 8, who has a lot to say about what child-friendly really means. We talk about safety, freedom in learning, digital experiences, and how creativity evolves through exploration. Wren shares which platforms she avoids and why.Her insights are sharp and brilliantly articulated, and her words remind us — again — not to underestimate younger voices. That’s what this season is about: pure curiosity to understand what each child knows, feels, and thinks about the topics we’re so used to discussing in the industry. Hope these conversations spark ideas and action — and help bring youth voices into the world we’re designing together.*** Host***Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters***⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠D4CR Association ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter⁠
Jun 4, 2025
31 min
After what kids think: visiting Sarah, 16, in Pakistan
In this season, we’re on a journey of exploring how kids understand design, children’s rights, and what we can learn from their unique insights, context, and perspectives. Hope these conversations spark ideas and action, amplifying the impact of youth voices in the world we’re designing together.Our first stop: Pakistan, where Sarah, 16, kindly invites us into her reality — where some things we consider basic, like meeting with a friend in a park, aren’t obvious at all. On top of design and children's rights, you'll hear strong ideas on education, lessons in gratitude, and making an impact outside of your comfort bubble with the cards that life gives you.*** Host***Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠⁠⁠*** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters***⁠⁠⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠D4CR Association ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter⁠
May 9, 2025
47 min
Crafting equitable play spaces
Are you ready to enrich your understanding of play and spaces that allow equitable child experiences?  In this episode we are joined by Marie Williams to reflect on the urgency of prioritizing play and moving beyond conventional ideas and aesthetics of play tools. Emphasizing the importance of play experiences, we discuss the value of transferring knowledge, sharing diverse stories, and co-designing with children—without relying solely on our interpretations.  What a perfect way to close out the first season! *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guest: ⁠⁠⁠Marie Williams Host: ⁠⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠⁠ ***Relevant links*** https://dreamnetworks.co.uk/ Welsh Assembly Play Policy, 2002 *** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters*** ⁠⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠D4CR Association ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter
Dec 26, 2024
49 min
Play, physicality and AI
What is play, playfulness, and physicality? What are their practical sides and applications in the AI Era? What boundaries should we set to ensure AI is sensitive to children's playful minds? In this episode, we are joined by Yesim Kunter, play expert and futurist, to discuss these serious questions, looking at AI as a Human+AI interplay. *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guest: ⁠⁠Yesim Kunter Host: ⁠⁠Polina Lulu⁠⁠ ***Relevant links*** www.playtoinnovate.com  Instagram for Jesim's Play and Design related Instagram for Yesim's Art Work  Articles by Yesim *** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters*** ⁠⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠⁠  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠D4CR Association ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Porto ⁠chapter
Jul 8, 2024
47 min
Building a Positive Digital Future for Kids, with Kids—Together
Peek into the Joan Ganz Cooney Center’s approach for prioritizing children’s best interests, leveraging their unique insights, and positively impacting the work of children’s tech and media creators. In this episode, Michael Preston, Executive Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop, shares the wonders of partnering with kids and each other. Discover how the Cooney Center Sandbox, a design and innovation lab, plays a pivotal role, serving as a place where children and adults engage creatively to together foster a positive and inclusive digital world for children. *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guest: ⁠Michael Preston Host: ⁠Polina Lulu⁠ ***Link to the Joan Ganz Cooney Center*** https://joanganzcooneycenter.org/ *** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters*** ⁠Designing for Children’s Rights Guide⁠  ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠D4CR Association ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Berlin chapter ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Malmo ⁠chapter⁠ ⁠Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter⁠ ⁠Porto ⁠chapter
May 21, 2024
38 min
Children and fashion: learning through clothes
What can children tell us through their interactions with everyday clothes? And what can they learn about themselves and others through clothing? Why and how can young people inspire a more ethical fashion industry driven by D4CR principles? It takes no less than three experts to address these questions through the analysis of collaborative experiences of co-creation with children. Let’s embark into their journey and explore with us the learning power of clothes! Join us on this exploration with Aude Le Guennec, Design Anthropologist, Design Anthropologist, co-curator “Dressed for School” (in partnership with the French National Museum of Education), Laetitia Barbu, designer and artistic director at Ark-Ellia Design and Illustrious Lab, and Anne-Charlotte Hartmann-Bragard, expert in brand strategy, image and communication and founder of Studio Abi, promoting textile education. *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guests: Dr. Aude Le Guennec, Anne-Charlotte Hartmann-Bragard, Laetitia Barbu Host: Polina Lulu ***Links & references mentioned in this episode*** D4CR Paris Local Chapter D4CR Glasgow Local Chapter Illustrious Lab (Laetitia Barbu) Studio Abi (Anne-Charlotte Hartmann-Bragard) https://www.audeleguennec.com/home https://radar.gsa.ac.uk/profile/1719 Tell Me exhibition : https://d4crscottishchapter.wordpress.com/gallery/ https://d4crscottishchapter.wordpress.com/munae-press-release/ https://my.octopus3d.com/tour/shabiller-pour-lecole (online exhibition) https://d4crfrenchchapter.wordpress.com/galerie/ (in French) *** Links of the D4CR Association and active local chapters*** Designing for Children’s Rights Guide  ⁠ D4CR Association ⁠ Berlin chapter ⁠ Malmo ⁠chapter Tel-Aviv ⁠chapter Porto ⁠chapter
Jan 12, 2024
52 min
Strategies for using the D4CR principles in diverse contexts
Get inspired by how the D4CR principles are being applied in various organizations and academia. From inclusivity to the impact of digital technology, we explore the challenges and opportunities in different industries. As an expert in play and designing for children and a co-founder of D4CR, Krystina provides unique insights into creating impactful experiences for children that address their present needs and pave the way for a better future. *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guest, Krystina Castella Host, ⁠⁠Polina Lulu *** Links of the D4CR Association ***Designing for Children’s Rights Guide D4CR Association  Active local chapters:Berlin Malmo Tel-Aviv Porto 
Nov 1, 2023
42 min
Co-creating with children in public space as design activism
250 children wrote a 40 meters long message saying “WE HAVE RIGHTS, WE DESIGN THE FUTURE” expressing with chalk their thoughts, opinions, and feelings. What a fantastic way to celebrate Children's day! In this episode we talk with Clara Vieira Rodrigues, the leader of D4CR Porto Chapter, about this powerful event, as well as about co-creating with and for children in public space as an act of community involvement and design activism.    *** Links & references mentioned in this episode***More about the event with video and photos *** Links to the guests and hosts*** Guest, Clara Vieira Rodrigues Host, ⁠⁠Polina Lulu *** Links of the D4CR Association ***Designing for Children’s Rights Guide  https://childrensdesignguide.org/D4CR Association https://designingforchildrensrights.org/ Active local chapters:Berlin https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/d4cr-berlin-chapter/Malmo https://www.linkedin.com/company/d4cr-malmo-chapter/posts/Tel-Aviv https://www.linkedin.com/company/d4cr-tlv-chapter/Porto https://www.linkedin.com/company/d4cr-porto-chapter/
Sep 21, 2023
33 min
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