Design for Children
Spaces and objects between play and learning
Rome
ENG
|
ITA
Master
Language
English, Italian
Start date
November 2026
Frequency
Full time
Fruition
On campus
Duration
11 Months
Price
EU/EEA resident students: €15.300
Non‑EU/Non-EEA resident students: €17.300
What is the role of design in shaping contemporary educational environments for children?
Designing for childhood means engaging with a stage of life in which space, objects and relationships have a profound impact on cognitive, social and emotional development. In a context marked by rapid technological and cultural change, design is called upon to rethink educational environments and learning tools capable of supporting children and adolescents throughout their growth, responding to increasingly complex educational, social and environmental needs.
The Master in Design for Children at IED Roma was created to explore design as an educational and cultural tool, placing the needs, abilities and learning processes of childhood at the centre of the project. The programme integrates design skills with knowledge drawn from pedagogy, the history of play and developmental psychology, offering a broad and interdisciplinary vision of design for children. Design is approached as a shared process, in constant dialogue with the different actors involved in educational contexts.
The educational pathway is structured around two closely interconnected design areas: the design of products, games and educational tools, and the design of educational spaces. Through laboratories, intensive workshops and theoretical lessons, students develop technical and methodological skills related to materials, digital technologies, safety regulations and learning theories.
The design laboratories are developed in collaboration with partner companies and leading institutions in the field of education and experimentation, including the Montessori Foundation and the Reggio Children Foundation. This approach encourages direct dialogue with educators, researchers and professionals, allowing students to work on real cases that integrate pedagogical research, design innovation and practical application. The Master concludes with a Final Thesis Project dedicated to the development of comprehensive design solutions for contemporary educational contexts.
The Master prepares professional figures able to intervene in the design and development of educational spaces, learning environments and products for children, working within design studios, companies producing educational furniture and tools, public and private institutions, cultural organisations and organisations engaged in pedagogical experimentation. The acquired skills enable graduates to undertake projects related to formal and informal educational contexts, the development of educational products and play systems, and the creation of design solutions focused on safety, inclusion and the quality of the educational experience.
Faculty
Course Coordinator
Laura Negrini
Architect, Co-Founder - BAN Baglivo Negrini Architetti
Course Coordinator
Mauro Del Santo
Product Designer
Giulio Pernice
Interaction Designer
Francesca Crisafulli
Valentina Conte
Architect e Project Manager
Francesco Bombardi
Luca Boscardin
Carmelo Baglivo
Domitilla Dardi
Art Historian, Curator of design
Irene Guerrieri
Architect
Maurizio Cozzi
Architect and Toy Design
Silvana Sperati
Researcher and Writer
Andrea Lupi
Researcher in General Didactics and Special Pedagogy
Alessandro Zecchin
General Director - GAM Srl
Giovanni Fumagalli
Architect and Designer
Course partner
What people say
To design for children means to design interior spaces, objects, books, visual communication. Not only to solve a program, but especially to stimulate freedom, knowledge, critical thought"
Students from the Master in Design for Children presented their Thesis Projects, exploring products and learning environments shaped by pedagogical approaches and forward-looking perspectives on childhood. Their work reflects a cross-disciplinary mindset and a strong ability to engage with the complexity of today’s social and cultural transformations. In a world increasingly driven by technology and artificial intelligence, designing for children expands beyond dedicated spaces. It becomes an opportunity to imagine inclusive environments that respond to diverse needs and create meaningful experiences for everyone.
Master in Design for Children Coordinator
"Designing an educational environment means linking together architecture and pedagogy, design and anthropology, but also social, cultural and political aspects in a holistic and interdisciplinary approach."
Learning Environment Architect – Fondazione Reggio Children
“We believe that inter and trans-disciplinary collaboration among professionals dealing with childhood from different professional viewpoints is key to generate quality”
President of the Fondazione Montessori
“Tool aesthetics is not an accessory in itself, but it's also a means of engaging people and encourage them to learn something simply because they are doing something nice. The beauty of the rooms, the beauty of the tools facilitates learning.”
Physics Department - Sapienza Università di Roma
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