Co-Designing Storybooks for Children, with Children

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  • Title: Co-Designing Storybooks for Children, with Children: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Writing and Illustrating Stories Inspired by Children’s Ideas
  • Author(s): Sama'a Al Hashimi
  • Publisher: Common Ground Research Networks
  • Collection: Common Ground Research Networks
  • Series: Design Principles & Practices
  • Journal Title: The International Journal of Design Education
  • Keywords: Children, Storybook, Illustration, Co-design, Participatory Design, Story-making
  • Volume: 14
  • Issue: 3
  • Date: December 20, 2019
  • ISSN: 2325-128X (Print)
  • ISSN: 2325-1298 (Online)
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-128X/CGP/v14i03/1-21
  • Citation: Al Hashimi, Sama'a . 2019. "Co-Designing Storybooks for Children, with Children: An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Writing and Illustrating Stories Inspired by Children’s Ideas." The International Journal of Design Education 14 (3): 1-21. doi:10.18848/2325-128X/CGP/v14i03/1-21.
  • Extent: 21 pages

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Abstract

This research proposes a participatory co-design approach and employs a quasi-experimental study whereby university art and design students co-create stories with children. It attempts to evaluate the influence of the approach on the students’ writing, illustration, and creative thinking skills. The study endeavors to raise awareness about the participatory co-design strategy among art and design educators and encourage them to explore its potential in their illustration classrooms. It also explores how designers and storytellers can find inspiration in children’s imagination and represents how involving children in the storybook creation process can bring new insights for nurturing the innovative thinking of illustrators and writers, and provide stimulating opportunities for ideation and meaningful learning experiences. The research shifts the role of children from being only readers to being design partners who create ideas with designers during the brainstorming and idea-generation stage.