Mindfull Spaces

Judges Comments

With Kids suffering from mental health and wellbeing challenges and a broad spectrum of neurodivergent only needs getting greater, Mindfull’s response is a beautifully crafted solution that encourages kids to stay and learn in the classroom rather than separating them, making them feel safe and secure. A design solution that embraces the future of alternate learning in schools addressing and solving real issues for children teachers and parents alike. A beacon in the education space across New Zealand and Australia and leading the way with this innovative suite of furniture for the classroom of tomorrow.

Description

The Why

In late 2021 New Zealand and the world emerged from global lockdowns. Schools had suffered through two years of disrupted education and finding a new normal was proving difficult.

With decades of experience delivering world-class learning space furniture, the founders of Mindfull decided they needed to reconnect with New Zealand educators and schools. They interviewed a series of New Zealand principals to discover their school's daily challenges and what had changed.

The overwhelming feedback? An ever increasing number of kids arriving to the classroom, dysregulated – with teachers being ill-equipped with practical solutions to manage this new generation of kids. For many students, school is the safest and most structured part of their day. Often arriving overstimulated or exhausted from a lack of home routines without access to the right tools to create balance.

Research showed at least 1/3 of the kids in schools across New Zealand and Australia suffer from mental health and wellbeing challenges ranging from anxiety and depression, sensory and processing conditions to a broad spectrum of neurodivergent needs that only continue to rise. Anecdotally the numbers in classrooms are believed to be even higher.

The Idea

The data also shows that removing dysregulated children from the classroom negatively impacts their social and learning development. As well as their peers' ability to build empathy. In addition, large open plan learning spaces (much like offices for adults) fail to provide students with the control to create a personal user experience needed to learn and thrive.

How do you best develop a range of dynamic furniture that helps students regulate themselves so everyone can stay learning in the classroom? Design fast, test it to failure with real kids and navigate the budget constraints schools have from the beginning so you can make it accessible to every school and the people who need it the most.

Allow students to self-regulate in the classroom by seeking solo sanctuary or dynamically move to stim and stay active so they can stay on task. Give them the space to nurture a deeper social interaction and connection with their peers all while staying in the classroom and not be removed and stigmatising for their alternate learning needs.

The Design

Each product brings something different to the family. The Hideaway Hood provides a solo sanctuary to escape the chaos. The Learning Hut creates a collaborative space to gather with your friends without feeling disconnected. The Laylow Raft and Pad provide low floor cushioning with multi-textured fabrics when you want to feel grounded. The Wobble Seat and Rocking Perch draw on deep research into the benefit of dynamic movement and provide the perfect outlet for active bouncy kids needing to stim and move while still being present and staying on task.

The design language references nature through form, colour and texture. Leaning into the theory that humans have a deep and innate connection to the natural world which makes us feel safer and more grounded. The design architecture also allows for iterative design cycles and improvements. Using in-market feedback to directly influence new product development shortening time to market to trial new solutions.

What Elevates the Work

Mindfull is a product brand, but the mission of the founders has always been to build a brand that is less about product and profit and more about building community and platform to improve learning spaces globally. Mindfull has already become a beacon in the education space across NZ/AUS being asked to present at dozens of events to discuss student wellbeing, neurodiversity and other pressing topics. In its first 12 months it was purchased by over 100 schools across New Zealand and Australia.

From the beginning teachers and parents wanted Mindfull in their own home, knowing the familiarity of the items in both spaces would allow for smoother transitions in the day and give their kids an opportunity better to self-regulate at home. Part of the design criteria was to ensure the range had life beyond the classroom, leading to a design language that elevates the classroom while seamlessly integrating into a residential setting.

Principals, teachers and students alike have highly praised the products and the conversation they are now encouraged to have about the future of alternate learning in the classroom.