Wat als..? Jongeren aan zet met ontwerpen (Handleiding voor de Begeleider)

"What If...?" – A Guide for Facilitators This guide is designed to help educators, youth workers, and coaches engage young people (ages 10–14) in creative design processes to explore and respond to complex social issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, or family separation. Purpose The method empowers young people to: Investigate real-world societal challenges Collaboratively generate ideas and design solutions Present their concepts through creative pitches Develop essential life skills like problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, and critical thinking Structure The process follows five main steps, each with its own set of creative activities ("werkvormen"): Choosing a theme – selecting a topic that matters to the group Exploring the theme – deepening understanding through research and creative reflection Generating ideas – brainstorming using playful tools and emotion-based prompts Making a design – building a model or prototype and refining it through feedback Presenting the design – sharing the outcome with others through presentations or video pitches Format Designed to be flexible: the process can take place over one full day or be spread across multiple sessions. Facilitators do not need prior experience in design. The guide includes printable worksheets, example scenarios, and creative exercises. Emphasizes co-creation, emotional reflection, and ownership by the youth. Educational Outcomes Participants develop: Problem-solving and research skills Creativity and imagination Empathy and social awareness Confidence in presenting their ideas Background The method was developed as part of the project “Kind! Wat zou jij doen?” (Child! What would you do?), a collaboration between TU Delft, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, and other educational and social organizations, supported by ZonMW and NWO funding.