Page 201 - Design Thinking C11

21 st
Century #Media Literacy
Skills
T
A Test your observation skills by playing this game. Check out the visuals and
S IT’S guess which Indian city it is!
K GAME
2 TIME Go to https://virtualvacation.us/guess, scroll down and choose
India. How many cities could you guess correctly? If interested
also try out other countries like US, Canada, Russia and France!

Designing public spaces is not just about construction or looks. It is about understanding people and creating
spaces that make life better for everyone. A good public space respects nature, welcomes everyone, and
encourages positive experiences. Designers of tomorrow must think with empathy, observe with care, and
create with responsibility.

Public spaces are areas like parks, markets, streets, and stations that are open and accessible to everyone,
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regardless of age, background, or income.
These spaces are meant to be inclusive, functional, safe, clean, and engaging, allowing people to relax,
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interact, move, or work with ease.
A public space is different from a shared space. While all public spaces are shared, not all shared spaces
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are public. Shared spaces like school grounds or society gardens have access limits, while public spaces
are open to all.
Good design improves how people use and experience public spaces. It is not only about looks, but
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about solving problems and making spaces useful and meaningful.
Stakeholder mapping helps designers understand different users (like commuters, vendors, elderly,
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etc.) and their needs before creating solutions.
Designers use tools like observation, empathy interviews, personas, journey maps, sketching, and user
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testing to gather insights and improve designs.
Real-life examples like the Kochi Water Metro and the Raahgiri Day initiative show how well-designed
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public spaces can be inclusive, people-friendly, and even change how cities think about roads and
transport.
Students are encouraged to try real tasks—like redesigning a school entrance or bus stop—by observing
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users, mapping their journeys, and proposing improvements.
Design thinking in public spaces teaches empathy, responsibility, and creativity. A good designer must
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think about what makes spaces better not just for one, but for everyone.

Design for Public Spaces
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