Rethinking Aesthetics in Children’s Spaces
Aesthetic Preferences and Cultural Contexts
During my education in anthropology, I was constantly reminded that what we find beautiful is deeply cultural. Minimalist aesthetics—characterized by muted colors and clean lines—are often emphasized in design education to encourage intentionality and discourage what might be seen as arbitrary or chaotic use of color. This philosophy can create a tendency among designers to favor restrained palettes out of concern for appearing unrefined, overly ethnic, or excessively sentimental. However, when these principles are applied to spaces for children, it is crucial to question whether they truly align with the needs and developmental experiences of the intended users.
Minimalism in Taiwan's Educational Spaces
In Taiwan, a recent government initiative sought to renovate playgrounds and schools under the banner of aesthetic education. The Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) introduced minimalist designs into these spaces, replacing colorful elements with neutral tones and streamlined styles. While these changes align with modernist aesthetics and may appeal to adult sensibilities of order and sophistication, they inadvertently overlook the developmental needs of children, who thrive in environments rich with sensory and emotional stimuli.
A striking example comes from a craft and art education classroom. Originally, the space featured warm wooden furniture and playful sea animal decorations on the walls, creating an inviting and creative atmosphere. This was replaced with stark white tones and furniture, including white desks that, unlike their wooden predecessors, are far less tolerant of scratches, cuts, or doodles—the natural byproducts of creative activity. The transformation drained the room of its vibrancy and erased its potential to inspire imagination. Such changes prioritize adult notions of cleanliness and order over children’s innate love for exploration and expression.
Muted-colored cleaning tools introduced as part of the aesthetic education program.
Color, Creativity, and Democratic Design
Colors in children’s environments are not arbitrary; they serve as functional tools for sensory stimulation and cognitive development, aiding navigation, categorization, and imagination. Consider how children’s toys are often vibrantly colored. This is not merely a design choice but a response to their psychological development needs. By focusing solely on adult-centric aesthetics and dismissing colorful spaces as “aesthetic disasters,” we risk undervaluing the qualities that engage children, such as vibrancy, playfulness, and imaginative potential.
Designing for children requires a willingness to unlearn adult biases and adopt more democratic approaches. It’s not about rejecting minimalism entirely but finding ways to balance it with elements that children naturally connect with. One possible approach is participatory design, which involves children in the creation process and encourages democratic collaboration. By listening to their insights, we can craft environments that genuinely reflect their needs and aspirations, rather than imposing adult-centric ideals. This approach treats children’s perspectives as valid and ensures that the spaces reflect their needs rather than imposing adult notions of beauty.
Looking beyond Taiwan, countries like the Netherlands offer examples of how vibrant, colorful designs can coexist with the aspired “modernity.” These spaces demonstrate that minimalism and color are not mutually exclusive. By embracing a more inclusive understanding of aesthetics, we can create environments that honor children’s developmental needs while satisfying broader design goals.
Designing Spaces That Shape Childhood
The design of children’s spaces stands out to me because it goes beyond aesthetics; it actively participates in the socialization of its users. Designing for children carries a unique and profound responsibility. Unlike adults, children are still shaping their perceptions of the world, and the spaces we create for them influence their socialization, creativity, and sense of agency. These environments do more than house activities—they actively participate in shaping how children perceive the world, interact with others, and develop their creativity.
Unlike adult environments such as workplaces or commercial spaces, these settings must foster exploration, playfulness, and imagination. By embracing diverse design approaches and maintaining a willingness to learn from children’s perspectives, we can create spaces that are functional, inspiring, and nurturing—challenging conventional ideas of beauty and expanding what design can achieve.