Enhancing Environmental Awareness Through Interactive Education: Design and Implementation of a Mobile Urban Module

Authors : Didem Kan, Yasemin Albayrak Kutlay

Pages : 369-396

Doi:10.33417/tsh.1542732

View : 59 | Download : 102

Publication Date : 2026-01-31

Article Type : Other Papers

Abstract :This is a social responsibility project that aims to provide design-oriented solutions to create a positive change by fostering awareness about recycling, and environmental issues among children in disadvantageous neighborhoods and all the public spaces prioritizing schools in İzmir, Turkey. The project used a co-design approach to gather insights and determine the needs of the community in disadvantaged neighborhoods, offering an interdisciplinary perspective to the design process. Based on the workshop session findings which is conducted with a focus group of children a mobile urban module is designed to circulate within the city and host activities according to the needs and dreams of the community. The “PLAY” concept was the central aspect of this social responsibility project; therefore, students from the İzmir University of Economics (İUE) collaborated with children and stakeholders -the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) and Izmir Chamber of Commerce (İZTO)- to design various aspects of the mobile urban module, including graphic identity, service-system strategy, interior design, and product design. We believe that children need to be primary actors in their own education life and raise their voices in the situations and decisions that affect them.
Keywords : İşbirlikçi Tasarım, Mobil Kentsel Modül, Yerel Toplum, İnteraktif Eğitim, Mekansal-Hizmet Tasarımı

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