Back to Devoured - September 17, 2026
DEVOURED
Designing with Children, Not for Them

Designing with Children, Not for Them

Design Smart Interface Design Patterns
Co-designing digital products with children requires abandoning formal interview structures in favor of tactile, play-based interaction at their eye level.
What: Save the Children Finland's handbook suggests that design sessions with children should cap at six participants, focus on visible progress, and prioritize their subjective sense of being heard.
Why it matters: Most digital interfaces for children are designed based on adult assumptions; true child-centered design treats children as active contributors to the UX research process.
Takeaway: In your next session with younger users, replace direct questioning with picture-based props and allow for play-based interaction to lower the barrier for feedback.
Original article

A free handbook from Save the Children Finland outlines how to co-design digital products with children rather than for them, through consent, play, and trust-building. Practical techniques include sitting at a child's eye level, using pictures and props instead of direct interviews, and capping group sessions at six children per two adults. Success is measured by how heard a child felt rather than what adults intended, since children lose motivation quickly and need visible, steady progress.

Explore all 60 articles in today's digest

Fresh dev news, AI-digested daily. Never miss a trend at devoured.fyi