“Who designs Hawaiʻi?,” an educational resource created to reach keiki during these unprecedented times, is a pilot program by the University of Hawaiʻi Community Design Center (UHCDC) and Hawaiʻi Architectural Foundation. “Who designs Hawaiʻi?” gathers local designers and design students in UH Mānoa’s School of Architecture, to share their work and experience with keiki in a creative online learning opportunity.
The four-week program runs September 8 through October 1, on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. Each session is 40 minutes and will be held via Zoom. Sessions are free, however registration is required because space is limited. The content is designed for kids ages 7–11.
Sessions will include introductions, a 10-minute presentation or video, talk story with a local designer and a simple 10-minute drawing or design exercise, followed by a wrap-up. Some of the topics discussed include designing a playground in Hawaiʻi, creating a sustainable landscape, rethinking the design of classrooms and more.
“The idea emerged when HIDOE (Hawaiʻi State Department of Education) announced that they would start the fall semester online, which is a difficult situation for kids learning at home with working parents, and parents working at home with kids,” said Cathi Ho Schar, UHCDC director and assistant professor in UH Mānoa’s School of Architecture. “We wanted to offer an opportunity for creative interactions that would excite young minds and relieve overworked parents.”
The program will bring together local designers and design students in architecture, landscape architecture, interiors, planning, graphic arts, education and engineering, to share what they do and to engage keiki in the thinking and creating processes that are involved.
“We are lucky to be part of an incredible resource network,” said Schar. “We are surrounded by faculty, students, new graduates and allied professionals with exciting work and talents to share. We are grateful to everyone who has agreed to be a guest and welcome any others!”
For more information see the “Who designs Hawaiʻi?” website.
