Doing design with kids

A workbook filled with playful, graphic exercises, designed by designers, available to everyone

A joyful, thought-provoking, and humorous book filled with graphic exercises by graphic designers to enjoy with kids.

Looking for activities she could truly enjoy with her children—not just something to keep them busy, but something visually engaging and close to the way she already thought and worked as a designer—Loredana Bontempi began inventing graphic exercises with them. Excited by the process, she wondered: what if designers shared the actual creative activities they do with children in everyday life? Not as polished workshops or educational tools, but as simple, direct experiences. Drawing together, cutting shapes, repeating gestures, or adjusting something little by little until it works, at the kitchen table, on the floor, during a quiet afternoon, or on a long train ride.

The activities contributed by graphic designers from around the world, often begin with a simple constraint. A change in scale or a different way of framing the task can redirect attention and influence how the work develops. The intention is not to make things more complex, but more precise, holding together both perspectives: the child's curiosity and a more attentive eye.

These exercises tend to focus less on expression or storytelling, bringing aspects such as form, composition, rhythm and visual balance into the foreground. They spark creativity, curiosity, joy, humour, and much more.

Edited and introduced by Loredana Bontempi, Featuring Interviews by Loredana Bontempi to Luciano Perondi and Felix Salut.

The contributors are Andrea Bergamini, Emanuele Bonetti, Lorenzo Bravi, Bram van Bree, Silvia Carollo, Nick Deakin, Marion Deuchars, Simone Dresens, Alessio D’Ellena, Loes van Esch, Jannice Guilloux, Martin Kerschbaumer, Freja Kir, Ken Kirton, Jacqueline Kumer, Ellen Lupton, Claude Marzotto, Luisa Milani and Walter Molteni, Ilenia Notarangelo and Luca Gonnelli, Katrijn Oelbrandt, Luciano Perondi, Radim Peško, Michelle Phillips, Luke Powell and Kate Rogers, Olivier Querné, César Rogers, Victoria Rosselli, Felix Salut, Maia Sambonet, Bruno Setola