This study is carried out within the context of a research and innovation
project Co-design with Kids that aims to support teaching of broad so-called ‘21st
century’ skills. In this project, design toolboxes for use within primary education
are developed and studied, with real life clients and assignments. In the case
described in this paper, the assignment was to create new concepts for physical
education (PE). To be able to assess the value of design outcomes created in a
co-design trajectory by children, we compared their design outcomes to those
created in a similar design process by professionals. Six teams of children (n=21,
11-12 years old) and three teams of professionals (n=10, with a background in
design, sports or physical education) developed concepts in separate co-creation
sessions. We present a first assessment of the differences and similarities in
creativity of the design outcomes of the two groups. This assessment of textual
summaries shows no remarkable differences between design outcomes of
children and those of professionals in terms of elaboration, originality and
relevance. This indicates that children could be involved as design partners.
Further research is needed to gain insight into the specific value of involving
children as design partners.