Joel Burford | Graduation Year: 2022
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-burford/

• Executed: 5th Year
• Degree Path: Interior Architecture & Product Design
• Course: Advanced IA Design Studio

The rapid and pervasive evolution and integration of technology and screens into children’s lives in recent years has been linked with the growing anxiety and depression rates found in young people. Education has become increasingly technologically based and less human and personal. This has sparked conversations on the need for new pedagogical approaches. Reports analyzing child development in recent years indicate cognitive, emotional, and social milestones are not being met. Research indicates this results in a decline in mental health which affects children’s ability to learn, not to mention an increase in behavioral problems by the time they are adolescents.

An author and child educator who made learning very relatable and personal was Fred Rogers. He once said, “Each one is different, though, and you each have a different ‘song to sing.’ When you sing together, you make one voice. That’s true of all endeavors, not just musical ones. Finding ways to harmonize our uniqueness with the uniqueness of others can be the most fun—and the most rewarding—of all.” (The World According to Mister Rogers, p.154).

Music is a universal language, has much in common with architecture, and has therapeutic and unifying qualities. Joel researched via interviews with child educators and music therapist personnel to develop a design framework for using music architecturally within an early education facility. The goal for producing this new design framework is to create a prototypical facility that will help preschool and kindergarten-aged children with their mental, emotional, and social health and development.