Co-designing outdoor playspaces with children: A framework for analyzing participant design priorities

Design processes increasingly embrace participatory methods, yet systematic frameworks for analyzing diverse co-design outputs remain underdeveloped, especially those from children. This study introduces the Priority Experiences of Participants (PrEP) framework, a five-stage analytical approach for synthesizing multimodal co-design contributions into actionable design guidance. The framework employs the lens of affordances to identify “umbrella experiences,” high-level experiential priorities. Through mixed-methods triangulation, including content analysis, Q-Sort rankings, and qualitative analysis, the framework systematically synthesizes participant contributions into design guidance. The framework is illustrated through a schoolyard co-design case study with 9- to 10-year-olds. The PrEP framework provides a structured approach and accessible tools to support the effective inclusion of children in decision-making and the authentic translation of their priorities into design solutions. • PrEP framework synthesizes diverse outputs from co-design activities with children. • Framework helps identify, document, and honor children's priorities in design. • Umbrella experiences provide a common language between users and designers. • Framework illustrated a diversity of priority play experiences in the case study. • Results illustrated the value and utility of an experience-centered framework.