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WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT CHILDESIGN & ITS GOALS Quotes below are excerpted from correspondence sent to CHILDESIGN or feedback phone calls made to CHILDESIGN. Their affiliations have been updated in some cases for identification purposes. Views expressed are those of the individuals."...it is with particular satisfaction that I endorse both the form and function of CHILDESIGN...It is, simply, an idea whose time has come. Not only is Sandra an articulate voice concerning design matters that are all too rarely spoken of, she is a diligent and dedicated advocate of design and architecture at its humanistic best." Steven Skov Holt Chair and Distinguished Professor, Industrial Design program at California College of the Arts. Recipient of the 2002 Career in Education Award from IDSA. Former Editor-in-Chief of ID Magazine, Partner at frog design. "I readily endorse your campaign...your work examining the impact that design exerts on the development of children is an area that people know little or nothing about. Because of that, your organization is desperately needed. But, because of this same ignorance, too few people may understand the vital importance of supporting your work. It is crucial, however, that you not abandon what is virtually the only focused effort in this field...I lend my voice in support of your request for funds to make this work possible. It is pointless to talk about readiness goals without also considering the provision of a “readiness environment." Edward Zigler, Ph.D., YALE UNIVERSITY “On behalf of the Arts Endowment, I want to congratulate you for the progress you have made in raising the issues of designs for children to a national level. You are doing vital work that will have lasting effects...addressing an area of design too long neglected. Finally, I want to commend you personally for your fidelity to a project that will surely benefit society as a whole.” Randolph McAusland "When I decided to put together our symposium "Design and the Baby Boom", you were the only person I could find who had a general knowledge of the field." Susan Yelavich, Program Coordinator “...I thought I knew everything there was to know about keeping kids safe. I did not. Sandra Edwards and CHILDESIGN have opened my eyes to the connection between design and safety, to the connection between design and how the world functions. I am delighted that via Sandra’s articles in Parenting magazine – on study spaces, nurturing nurseries, safe daycare centers – we are able to spread the word and educate our million-plus readers on such important subjects. People have asked me: Why a partnership between Parenting and CHILDESIGN? To me, the bond is obvious. We are reaching out to similar audiences: thinking, feeling people who are willing to do what it takes to make a difference in this world. To make it a safer place for children and for us all. To choose not the easy solutions, but to go searching for the right ones. Thanks to all of you for joining us...and especially, to Sandra Edwards and CHILDESIGN for leading the way.” Anne Krueger, then Editor-in-Chief, Parenting “Although children and their needs are the subject of myriad studies, those studies rarely yield information in a form useful, or even accessible, to designers. Yet designers create the artifacts that children live with and the environments they live in. They and their clients firms need...examples of what works and what doesn’t. Equally important in some cases: they need to know that they need it. As the only design authority who addresses this issue consistently, you are extraordinarily well qualified to lead this venture, which is in fact only an extension of what you have already been doing for years.” Ralph Caplan “…our heartiest thanks for the time you spent with us yesterday. It was twice as well-spent [because of] your help and with the knowledge and background you bring to bear.” Dana Wiser, Design Director“The future of design in America is dependent upon the design community’s ability to respond to the serious problems that face industries and consumers...The National Center on Design for Children represents an important effort to bridge the gap between designers and industries, and their ultimate client – children...the Center deserves funding.” David Revere McFadden "The success of last week's seminar is due to your excellent professional presentation and, perhaps more importantly, to your role as advocate for the child's place in making design decisions. Mary Funnell, Programs Dept. "Your consultation was invaluable in helping us define and locate the few good examples of work being done in this category." Richard R. John, Project Director "Now I understand what you do, and why you do it! The work is so important and also essential that it remain not-for-profit." Dr. Joan Jeffri, Director "...[When I was] told of the brick walls you've run into in your quest for ears receptive to your concepts, I thought of how it used to be true that a prophet is not respected in his (or her) own country. You probably think that's still true. Not so. I, for one, think your CHILDESIGN is fabulous..."
"...the fact remains that the child's environment is taken for granted...I trust your project will be given the support it is entitled to." Arthur J. Pulos, FIDSA “I really enjoyed reading the Times profile…[Your] comments on the Central Park Children's Zoo were absolutely on target and the ultimate proof of how, even when we design for children and we make an effort to incorporate what we think children enjoy, most designers fall way short of being able to understand a child’s reality... I firmly believe in CHILDESIGN's mission” Elisabet Spaulding "...most design for children [is] developed to support the investor or parent and irresponsible to the child that must interface with it...the product should be derivative of the information base available. As this base is virtually non-existent, certainly not organized, one can see why there is a lack of appropriate design for children...in filling this void, I feel the key element in CHILDESIGN's efforts is the center...It is imperative that you continue your efforts." George Simons, Jr., Principal Designer "The issue is, who is going to do this 'improved' form of design? Designers and manufacturers simply don't have the necessary information...there exists no central resource to which we can direct them. [CHILDESIGN] is much needed, and long overdue. Michael Williams, Director of Design "Amongst my library are design reference books covering every aspect ...but the World of Childhood. The research you are undertaking is very important. I look forward to your book (and, I hope, books) to fill this rather large void in my library. Bruce Burdick, Principle "I want you to know that I think the work you are doing on the CHILDESIGN project is critical. I have searched high and low for the kind of material you are proposing." Tibor Kalman, President "I am not aware of any such resource on children's products and environments. Such a resource will be invaluable to improving the quality of products marketed for young children." William L. MacMillan, III, Executive Director "The people responsible for setting up children's places, the architect, teacher, programmer, and all the others, look in vain for guidance. There is no source of broad information, of the right questions and suggested answers. You are proposing to fill this gap at the moment when efforts to set up children's spaces are taking place across the country. I hope you will make [the Center] happen." Felix Drury, A.I.A., Principle “CHILDESIGN is a dedicated and responsible organization, well prepared to expand its services. I strongly support it...and urge you to give it every consideration.” The Honorable Daniel Patrick Moynihan“Examples of good design are few and far between in the U.S., but Sandra Edwards is trying to change all that with her message that design literacy should begin at an early age.” Design Week Magazine, London “Sandra Edwards is changing the look of childhood.” Metropolitan Home Magazine WHAT OUR DESIGN DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FAMILIES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SOLUTIONS CHILDESIGN HAS CREATED AND THE THINGS THEY HAVE LEARNED FROM PARTICIPATION “Thanks to this project I now realize that the design of his environment is one area of my child’s life where I can regulate the influences on him, where I can take control to support and protect him! It’s so exciting. I’ve learned so much about my child, my family and myself through this process. But, parents need to be taught to think in this way.” Ellen Jennings "She took what was more like a tiny apartment and turned it into an incredibly functional home" Mark, husband / father “I sit in Keenan's room and still cannot believe it used to be our tiny deck. If I didn't know better, I'd swear we added on to it...What a great way to make room for baby...With all the cabinets, a custom crib, a sleeping alcove, places to hide away things like diaper pails, hampers and obnoxious toys, and space to play, I feel we must be the envy of anyone with children. What a transformation! Everything is beautiful. The space is so well used. We could not be more pleased.” Carrie, wife / mother “Thanks to the new design, the event was a success! The new door was great...the flow of [child] traffic moved [through the new door] directly to the playset! Just as you said it would! … The daybed looked great! The dramatic play closet was a big hit! … Everyone loved the kids’ bedrooms.” Bari Cenname, wife / mother THROUGH ITS PUBLICATION EFFORTS, CHILDESIGN GUIDES & HELPS FAMILIES "...I didn’t think there was any hope until I saw the article and what you were able to do." Desperate in Long Island "...You changed my whole outlook!" Joy Boccio "...You are doing great work and providing a real service to families." Marianne Chasen "...As soon as I saw the article I said to my wife, ‘Look, THIS is what I want to do!’ We’ve been trying to figure it out...Now that I see it, I know THAT’S what I want!" Greg Baker AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE FAMILIES THAT NEED CHILDESIGN’S HELP "...We are a combined family...trying to combine the needs of so many children that range in age from adolescence to infancy has been exhausting. Please help us. I just want to be able to relax and know that my baby is safe." "...We are VERY impressed with the work we saw in the article...Basically we need ANY and ALL help we could get!” "...We ALL need your help!” (Limited resources mean that we have been able to help only a fraction of all those in need; thus we have focused our energies on creating exemplary solutions to common problems, i.e., examples that others can use for guidance.) |
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