Grown-ups Advice Bureau

The Advice Service took place at the Nieuwe Instituut on December 14th, 2024. During the event, the mini-mentors—pictured above—took turns offering advice and approaching adults with flyers to invite them to participate.

This event was part of my ongoing research into co-design with children, through which I explore the underlying causes of children’s limited inclusion in design and decision-making processes. One key factor I examine is adultism—a pervasive mindset that prevents adults from viewing children as equal partners.

Adultism refers to the belief that the opinions, needs, and experiences of adults are inherently more valuable than those of children or young people.

By reversing the traditional roles of children and adults, I aim to challenge this ingrained social hierarchy. The Advice Service was conceived as a playful protest against the deeply rooted notion that adults should serve as the sole decision-makers in society.

Mini-mentors Anna, Lena, Hannah & Mare, Rotterdam