Design Camp: Waterpark Architecture for 11 to 14 year olds

In this full-day workshop, young people will explore the design of waterparks and how they can become fun spaces for people to enjoy.

The morning will involve a visit to Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. Drawing inspiration from the exhibition, young people will discuss their individual experiences of waterparks and pools and what is important to them about these spaces.

Designer and artist Madeleine Famurewa will introduce her practice, and the group will explore storytelling in waterparks through their depiction on film, TV shows, videogames and social media.

Participants will consider what waterparks of the future or past would look like and who would use them. Through large-scale collages and drawings with projections, they will develop stories and characters to interact with their utopian waterparks and consider how these can be designed with a user in mind.

The group will then investigate how to bring their designs to life by creating scale models from simple household materials and waste. Next, they will bring their designs together to explore how the ideas can be combined to become a superpark and consider what atmosphere can be created through light and sound.

By the end, participants will have a set of sketches and a working model of their imagined waterpark.

What will participants learn?

• An understanding of waterparks as spaces for people

• Considerations around user-centred design

• Basics of storytelling in architecture

• Sketching and exploratory drawing

• Working to scale

• Quick modelling and prototyping

Please note:

• This workshop is suitable for children aged 11-14. All participants must be dropped off and picked up by an adult. You can find additional information in the sections below

• Capacity is limited, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment

• All equipment, materials and light refreshments will be provided, but participants will need to bring a packed lunch

• All participants must be dropped off and picked up by a parent, carer or responsible adult. A member of our team will greet you on arrival and sign participants in

• We ask all bookers to provide an emergency contact name and number. Please ensure this person is available for the duration of the session

• The workshop content is tailored to a specific age group. Participants outside the advertised age range may find the session less accessible or engaging

• If there’s anything we can do to support your child’s participation, whether around mobility, communication, sensory processing, emotional regulation or anything else, you’re welcome to let us know at checkout. Sharing access needs is entirely optional and helps us prepare the session in the most inclusive way

• This session has capacity for up to 20 participants, led by one or two facilitators, with a typical adult-to-child ratio of 1:10

• If your child receives additional support in their education setting, you are welcome to bring a supporting adult with them at no extra cost. Please note that we are not able to provide one-to-one support ourselves

• If you have any questions or want to discuss specific access requirements, please get in touch with the team at DMAcademy@designmuseum.org

Background images: Matthew Kaltenborn. Other images: Courtesy of Madeleine Famurewa. Photos: Theo Dunne, George Baggaley, and Becky Callis.