In November, the KulturKids dedicated themselves to the topic of design – the art of creating things that are both beautiful and functional. But what did that really mean? And how could we use our minds, hearts, and hands to develop new ideas to improve the world around us?
To see, feel, and understand design, we visited some of Berlin’s most exciting design locations on three Saturdays: the Museum of Decorative Arts, the German Design Museum, and the Werkbund Archive – Museum of Things. There, we encountered iconic objects – from chairs to teapots – and discovered how designers created solutions for everyday life through form, color, and material. We talked about what made these objects special, how they felt, and how they influenced our lives.
There were also surprises: the children met a real designer and experience firsthand what a designer actually does.
In the practical part of the workshop, it was all about becoming designers ourselves. Inspired by the “Design Thinking” approach, the KulturKids learned in five steps: understanding, feeling, generating ideas, building or drawing, and testing. We took small everyday problems from the children’s world – for example, “Why does my backpack always fall over?” or “How can we organize pencils better?” – and turned them into creative design challenges. This resulted in original, child-friendly ideas and small prototypes.
Mind, Body & Soul
Mind:
We learned how designers think and discovered that behind every everyday object there is an idea. In our sketchbooks, we recorded shapes, colors, and ideas and developed our own designs.
Body:
We created with our hands – drawing, crafting, and building. Through movement, touch, and experimentation, we understood how design engages the body and senses.
Soul:
We experienced that good design also means considering others – creating things that bring joy and make life easier. In conversations, quiet moments, and small mindfulness exercises, we felt how design can influence our well-being.
We enjoyed three inspiring afternoons full of ideas, creativity, and discoveries – a month in which thinking, feeling, and creating came together.