IED – Istituto Europeo di Design Rome

Master in Design for Children

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.