‘Bounce’ explores the benefits of playgrounds to improve SEND student’s social, cognitive and coordination skills. It takes a user-centred approach to classroom seating, utilising movement to let SEND students in reception learn their own way.
Bounce features a unique combination of soft polyurethane foam layered over firmer latex foam, offering dynamic and responsive seating designed specifically for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) pupils. This thoughtful material choice addresses the critical need for inclusive learning environments. By incorporating softer, more forgiving materials into school chairs, Bounce provides a flexible seating solution that supports SEND children in mainstream classrooms. Where traditional static chairs may have hindered their comfort and focus, Bounce empowers them to learn in their own way. It encourages creativity and innovation by allowing children the freedom to explore their natural movement and seating preferences.
The chair's aesthetic direction was driven by the moodboard above. Inspiration was drawn from child's play and the dynamic movements facilitated by spring riders, sew-saws, and swings. Extensive research revealed the value of play in its ability to support children's creativity and innovation, as well as how playgrounds can reduce stress anxiety and support cognitive development. Bounce sports neutral colours complemented by curved forms to bring a sense of tranquillity to the classroom environments. The material cork was chosen to form the backseat because of its eco-friendly lifecycle, calming, child-friendly appearance, and because its an innovative upcoming trendy material, suiting the social design brief for this project, which aims to challenge the conventional. Designed with sustainability in mind, the product's end-of-life cycle is supported by 3D-printed clasps that allow the recycled cork back to detach from the steel frame, enabling easy replacement and recycling of the components. Playful steel shapes inspired the olive green chair frame, a modern take on Bauhaus design to support fresh design in mainstream schools for the generation of the future.
“I really like this idea of foam. I had a child with sensory issues in my class, and he loved this bouncy exercise ball. He loved the sensory pressure of pushing down when he sat and how it gave way to his weight. He loved the resistance and bit of movement. He didn’t bounce up and down too much; he just moved around while he sat. The pressure sensation calmed him a lot.” - Anon, 2024
Primary feedback from a teaching assistant (TA) with experience working with SEND children in a mainstream primary school.
Bounce is a child-centred design solution specifically crafted to address the challenges faced by SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) pupils. The design process incorporated valuable insights from teachers and teaching assistants (TAs) with extensive experience working with SEND children across London and Essex. These insights guided the development of a solution that is both practical and impactful for the target users, who often navigate a world that is not designed with their needs in mind.
To ensure a thoughtful and effective design process, IDEO's human-centred design thinking toolkit was employed to craft an appropriate and structured project plan. This comprehensive approach enabled the project to prioritise key goals and successfully align the design process with the project timeline, as illustrated above.
