Community Projects
Our vision and Commitment
At IDEA Design Hub, we believe that art is a powerful catalyst for positive change. Our mission is to empower communities across London by making art education accessible and inspiring. We envision a future where every child not only develops their creative talents but also contributes to building vibrant, inclusive community spaces. This vision drives our commitment to designing community projects that leave a lasting social impact.
We see our community projects as more than just initiatives—they are a way to transform local environments and uplift the people who live in them. By engaging children in the creative process, we nurture a sense of ownership, responsibility, and pride in their community. When young people contribute to the design and realisation of local projects, they gain invaluable skills, build lasting relationships, and become proactive citizens dedicated to making a difference. This approach ensures that art education goes hand-in-hand with community development and social cohesion.
At the heart of our business model is the belief that success in art education should directly benefit the community. Our affordable, high-quality art classes are designed to be accessible to every family, and a dedicated portion of the proceeds is reinvested in local community projects. This sustainable cycle means that every enrolment not only supports your child's artistic growth but also funds initiatives that enhance public spaces, support schools, and foster cultural enrichment throughout London. By merging education with community investment, we create a model where creativity and social impact are mutually reinforcing.
Our community projects are co-created by a diverse team of architects, designers, educators, psychologists, and—most importantly—our students. This collaborative approach ensures that every project is rooted in the needs and aspirations of the community. Whether it’s transforming a local park, creating public art installations, or organising community workshops, our projects are designed to bring people together, celebrate diversity, and inspire innovative thinking. We pride ourselves on delivering projects that reflect the unique character and dynamism of the communities we serve.
We invite parents, schools, and community members to become active partners in our journey. Explore our current projects, learn about our inspiring success stories, and discover how your support can help us create more enriching spaces and experiences for everyone. At IDEA Design Hub, every contribution matters—together, we can turn art into a powerful force for community transformation.
Unleash the Power of Community with Participatory Design!
At school, we believe in the strength of our community. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our initiative: a Participatory Design Consultation. This unique approach invites all stakeholders - students, teachers, parents, and local residents - to collaborate as equals in the design process. Whether it’s improving our learning spaces or planning school events, your voice matters! This is more than just a consultation; it’s a chance for you to shape your school’s future. By working together, we can ensure that our school not only meets the needs of our students but also reflects the values and aspirations of our wider community. Join us in this exciting journey of co-creation and let’s build a school that truly belongs to all of us!
Current Project:
Eco-friendly Sensory Garden
Co-creating an Inclusive Sensory Garden is a collaborative project aimed at establishing a welcoming, sensory-rich community space that promotes inclusion and connection. Partnering with local schools and neurodiverse groups, we aim to design a garden that caters to diverse needs while encouraging collaboration and hands-on involvement.
The garden will feature sensory elements such as textured pathways, fragrant and pollinator-friendly plants, calming water features, and interactive installations. These features will create a therapeutic environment, promoting relaxation, creativity, and well-being while also supporting biodiversity and sustainability. By incorporating eco-friendly practices like upcycled materials, rainwater harvesting, and composting systems, the project also highlights environmental stewardship.
Key activities include collaborative workshops on garden design, community planting days, and educational sessions about the role of sensory spaces and sustainable gardening. These activities provide hands-on learning opportunities for participants, especially neurodiverse individuals, while fostering awareness of inclusivity and shared ownership of the space.
By engaging neurodiverse groups, students, and community members in co-creation, this project will not only provide a space for sensory enrichment but also serve as a model for inclusive and environmentally sustainable community spaces.
Our Objectives
Community Engagement
The sensory garden's success will be gauged by the number of neurodiverse individuals and community members who actively use the space and participate in eco-focused activities such as sustainability workshops and planting days.
Goal: At least 500 participants engaged in the first year, including those involved in workshops promoting sustainable gardening and biodiversity.
Environmental Impact
The garden will be a hub for environmental education and sustainability. Success will be measured by metrics like the reduction of waste through composting, the number of native plants introduced, and increased pollinator activity. Goal: Compost at least 50kg of organic waste in the first year and achieve a 20% increase in observed pollinator species.
Guideline Development and Adoption
A core outcome is the creation of a guideline for developing inclusive, eco-friendly sensory spaces. Success will be measured by the adoption of these guidelines by local schools, organizations, and community groups to implement similar projects. Goal: At least 10 organizations adopt the guidelines within 18 months, implementing their own sustainable sensory spaces.
Microsoft West London Community Fund
We were granted fundings for Co-Creation an Eco-Friendly Sensory Garden by the Microsoft West London Community Fund. You can find more information on our projects on Changex.org
See Our Latest Projects:
Old Oak Primary School, U.K.
Gathering Children’s Voice in their Study Area Affected by HS2 Construction. Participation workshop co-organized with Old Oak Primary School , U.K. & Academy of Architecture, Amersterdam University of the Arts. In March 25 and 26, 2004, IDEA Design Hub CIC organized an impactful community initiative titled "Gathering Children’s Voice in their Study Area Affected by HS2 Construction." This event focused on engaging with local children to understand their perspectives and concerns regarding the HS2 construction's impact on their study environment. Through a series of interactive workshops and discussions, the organization provided a platform for children to express their views and experiences. The initiative aimed to ensure that the voices of the youngest community members were heard and considered in the ongoing developments, fostering a sense of inclusion and advocacy for their educational needs amidst the construction challenges.
Youth Outreach, Hong Kong
Operated by the Youth Outreach, Handout (a 24 hour drop-in centre) provides teengagers with a platform for “Youth Culture Base, a Unique and Innovative Cultural Platform” through training classes such as skateboarding, e-sports and street dancing. The platform not only helps adolescents boost their self-confidence but also potentially saves high-risk youth from going astray. In 2014, the on-site skateboarding coach Cheung Hang Tat (Tat Tat) in Hangout wanted to form a skateboarding team with the youngsters. Targeting to improve the outlook and facilitates of the skatepark, the Youth Outreach partnered with IDEA and SWIRE Properties Community Ambassador to undertake the “YO BRO! SKATE4GOOD” programme that brough 30 young skateboarding and volunteers to help renovate and transform the skateboarding space into a new “hangout” spot. The skateboarders were all proud of the project and felt that a strong sense of achievement had been reached.
Shepherd's Bush Library, U.K.
Building a Sustainable Future Library. Shepherd Bush Library, Hammersmith and Fullam, London, U.K. In the summer of 2023, IDEA Design Hub CIC organized a special event at Shepherds Bush Library in the UK, titled "Building a Sustainable Future Library." This initiative featured a workshop specifically designed for children aged 5-12, along with an engaging exhibition themed "Our Future Sustainable Library." The workshop aimed to inspire young minds to think creatively about sustainability and the future of their library. Through fun and interactive activities, such as upcycling materials to build a library bench, children explored concepts of environmental stewardship and resource efficiency. The accompanying exhibition showcased innovative ideas and projects focused on creating a sustainable library, encouraging both children and their families to envision a greener, more resilient community space. This event underscored IDEA Design Hub CIC's dedication to involving young people in meaningful conversations about sustainability and community development.
Morse Park, Hong Kong
The Senior. The Designer : Co-designing a friendly park furniture for children and elders at Morse Park, Hong Kong In Hong Kong, seniors used to be stereotyped as a group that needed to be taken care of in our society. However, if they are given an opportunity, they are able to play an active role in improving our community. The co-design projects done by the seniors and a group of designers at Morse Park in 2017 were a good example to showcase the elderly’s active participation. 18 senior citizens were invited to brainstorm ideas for designing public furniture which was friendly to kids and the elderly in the park. Featured with aerodynamic design, the bench and other public furniture not only aesthetically looked beautiful but also facilitated interaction with the users. The members of the design team, Robert Wong, Rosalia Leung, Chiling Cho and Gwyneth Chan were glad to share the story and experience about the project with us.
Design x Global Citizenship
Our long-standing service learning program offers a unique blend of design thinking and global citizenship. This isn’t just a trip, it’s an ongoing journey of discovery and innovation. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with communities, using participatory design to address real-world challenges. They also delve into the complexities of global citizenship, gaining insights into diverse cultures and perspectives. This program is a testament to our commitment to practical, impactful learning. By applying design principles in a global context, students have been developing empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills for years. Join us as we continue this transformative journey and design a better world together!
Our Past Projects:
Building Earthquake-Resistant Homes in Nepal
On April 25, 2015, Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which was recorded as the country’s most devastating since 1934, killing nearly 9,000 people and injuring more than 22,000. Most of the buildings in Nepal were not aseismic structures. In Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, 90% of the buildings were severely destroyed. Thousands of houses were destroyed across many districts of the country, with entire villages flattened, especially those near the epicentre. The majority of the people became homeless. Collaborated with Future Village, a Nepal-based NGO, IDEA organised a post-earthquake reconstruction programme in Nepal, namely “Build the Home, Build the Future”, to help villagers to rebuild their homes with earthquake-proof houses. The project was set as a model for other villages and communities to work on, and also as a reference for future settlement and reconstruction plans. The project was set as a model for other villages and communities to work on, and also as a reference for future resettlement and reconstruction plans. It also filled the gap to help to those people in the villages who were left behind by the government and other international organisations after the emergency relief. However, long-term redevelopment efforts and the assistance of re-housing victims were initiatives that were missing.
Co-designing Schools with Children in India
The street children issue has been a deteriorating social problem in India. Over 18 million children are living on the streets. The nation has the largest number of such cases among ohter countries in the World. Wandering the streets in India, one can see the underprivileged kids make ends meet by being street performers, street vendors and beggars. At their young age, street children are struggling and exposed to dangers and are prone to going astray. In 2012, IDEA collaborated with Kalki Welfare Society, an NGO rooted in an Indian southern city - Pondicherry, and renovated a shelter school with the children. The shelter school provided learning opportunities and emergency assistance to the street children.
Participatory Design of Village Schools in Cambodia
When the founder of IDEA, Robert Wong, paid his first visit to Cambodia in 2007, he found that young children in rural areas were out of school. With his passion for using architecture to help the needy, he decided to partner with the local NGO in the country to build schools. In 2009, IDEA organized the first village school-building project in Cambodia. Since then, IDEA has brought more than 500 volunteers around the globe to Cambodia, organized participatory design workshops with the local children and completed a total of 11 school building projects to build over 20 architects that benefit over 5,000 children.