#Japan #Tokyo #Creative Learning #Kids Design Award #Kids Design School

The Kids Design School's Achievement

The Kids Design School, led by renowned designer Gou Hatomi, has proudly been announced as the winner of the prestigious 20th Kids Design Award in the category of "Development of Sensibility and Creativity". This award highlights their commitment to teaching elementary school students not just design skills, but the crucial thinking processes that involve identifying and solving problems through design.

In today’s rapidly evolving world, it is more important than ever that children learn how to be creative thinkers and effective problem solvers. At the Kids Design School, students engage in a fun and interactive way to understand these concepts through hands-on learning. Rather than simply focusing on creating aesthetically pleasing artworks, the school emphasizes a thoughtful approach to design, fostering abilities that will help children navigate the challenges of an uncertain future.

This recognition serves as a motivation for the school to continue providing an enriching curriculum that encourages critical thinking, autonomy, and engagement with society. By working on real-world problems without predetermined answers, students learn how to approach challenges systematically and innovatively, gaining invaluable life skills along the way.

About the Kids Design Award

The Kids Design Award, organized by the Kids Design Council, is a commendation system aimed at recognizing excellent products, services, spaces, and activities that foster children's involvement in shaping society, and promote their creativity, safety, and well-being. The award categories focus on enhancing children's creativity and acquire foundational knowledge through innovative products and services. The category in which the Kids Design School won recognizes initiatives that cultivate children's sensibility and creativity.

Engaging and Practical Learning

The Kids Design School has been operational since April 2024, with locations in Nishi-Kasai, Edogawa Ward, and Yoyogi, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. They offer both in-person and online classes in small group settings to ensure personalized attention for each student.

When most people think of design, they often visualize creating beautiful images or cool shapes. However, the essence of design work goes much deeper. It involves exploring numerous problems and developing optimal ideas to address those challenges effectively. Through practical workshops, students at the Kids Design School take part in a hands-on learning journey where they discover how to turn ideas into tangible results. By allowing children to engage with the design process, they learn how to identify and resolve issues, embodying a design thinking approach.

Additionally, the school aims to extend learning beyond the classroom, collaborating with local businesses and communities. This initiative allows students to visualize their creations in real market settings and understand the responsibilities associated with their designs, thus merging fun with a sense of accountability.

Core Learning Points

1. Exploratory and Thought-Driven Experiences: The classes promote the joy of inquiry through a structured process that emphasizes knowledge acquisition, research, and creativity right from the start.
2. Guidance from Professional Designers: Experienced designers accompany students throughout the creative process, encouraging idea expansion while guiding them through aspects such as color, form, and layout, ultimately leading their projects to completion.

Upcoming Experience Workshops

The Kids Design School will host experience workshops at the community space "Yadoriki" in Nishi-Kasai, Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, on September 26, 27, and October 3, 4, 2026. In these workshops, students will use an intuitive graphic design tool called "Canva" to create their own original notebooks. The sessions are designed to be accessible for all-grade levels, ensuring that everyone can participate regardless of their artistic skills.

• - Location: Community Space Yadoriki (7-29-10 Nishi-Kasai #101, Edogawa Ward, Tokyo)
• - Format: In-person classes
• - Content: Design your original notebook!
• - Participation Fee: ¥1500
• - Target Group: Elementary School Students (Grades 1-6) accompanied by a guardian
• - Capacity: 6 participants per session
• - Schedule: Two sessions per day (Morning: 10:00-11:30, Afternoon: 13:00-14:30)
• - Registration: Visit the official website to register.

Note: Media may capture photos and videos during the event. By participating, you acknowledge their potential publication on various platforms.

Contact: For further inquiries, reach out to the Kids Design School at TEL: 080-3150-5535 or [email protected]