Design in Educational Spaces

The environments in which we learn are far more than a backdrop to education. From classrooms and campuses to digital platforms and informal learning settings, design influences how people engage, interact, develop confidence and acquire knowledge. 

This session will bring together research, practice and innovation to explore how educational spaces can be intentionally designed to support learning, wellbeing, participation and future skills. Drawing on international research, real-world interventions and digital learning innovation, the discussion will examine how design can help create more effective, inclusive and engaging learning experiences. 

About our speakers

Dr Pamela Woolner

Reader in the Use and Design of Educational Space, Newcastle University, UK.

My work centres on bridging gaps in understanding between education and architecture about designing and using school space. Throughout my career, partnerships with schools have enabled me to build knowledge about learning environments and support change to settings and practices. My published work includes a seminal review (The Impact of School Environments, 2005), a book for school users (The Design of Learning Spaces, 2010) and an interdisciplinary edited collection (School Design Together, 2015).

Recent projects include:

• Collaboration with Council of Europe Development Bank, 2019- 24. We developed, then trialled (in Finland and Italy), Constructing Education, an evidence-based framework for collaboration between educators and designers during the change process to enhance the effectiveness of investment in educational infrastructure through aligning design and use.

• Including pupil views in Building in Use reviews, 2022 – 23: I led an exploratory cross-disciplinary project, funded by Department for Education, focused on student use and valuing of external school space, to include student views in evaluations of new school space. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/developing-a-method-for-obtaining-pupil-insight-for-building-in-use-reviews

• Collaborative Re-Design with Schools – CoReD - 2019-22: Erasmus+ funded research and development project with six European partners, developing user-friendly tools for school communities to use to understand and change the design and use of their school space. Website of resources here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/cored/

Dr. Nagham El Elani

Lecturer at Newcastle College University Centre and Embodied Learning Spaces Consultant  

Nagham is an expert in Embodied Learning and Innovative Learning Spaces. Her doctoral research focuses on the exploration of how physical spaces facilitate diverse learning activities, with a particular emphasis on embodied learning. Nagham is a  Fellow recognised by the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and currently a lecturer at Newcastle College University Center, where she teaches interior and architecture students at both FE and HE level.

She is also the founder of Embodied Learning Spaces, where she provides consultancy to schools and architects on the use and design of learning spaces.

Before entering academia, Nagham practiced architecture in Qatar, working with international companies including GHD, and Arcadis. Her experience on large-scale projects, including the National Museum of Qatar, Gold Line Metro Stations, and Al Janoub Stadium, has given her extensive insight into the design and construction process.

Drawing on her experience as both an architect and educator, Nagham works to bridge the gap between architects and educators, advocating for learning spaces that better support embodied learning.

Mark Bawden

Founder of Key Stage Apps

Mark Bawden is an educational game designer and developer and founder of Key Stage Apps, creating digital learning experiences for primary-age children. His background is in the design industry, including work with Echokit and Neil Wilson Design, and that design-led approach continues to shape the way he thinks about educational technology: not simply as content delivered on a screen, but as an environment in which children explore, make choices and learn.

His work includes curriculum-based educational games for the US platform Legends of Learning, where he balances learning objectives, curriculum requirements and the need to create experiences that are genuinely engaging for children.

Mark was also a co-creator of Panda Babies Playhome, working with children’s writer and illustrator Keith Brumpton to transform his characters into an immersive interactive world centred on imaginative, narrative and nurturing play. He continues to explore character-led and story-driven digital experiences through his work with Tizzy Lemon.

Across both design and educational technology, Mark is particularly interested in how thoughtful interaction, visual design and playful environments can make learning feel more intuitive, inclusive and rewarding.

About the venue

You can find further details about this venue here.