Co-designing outdoor playspaces with children: A framework for analyzing participant design priorities

Design processes increasingly embrace participatory methods, yet systematic frameworks for analyzing diverse co-design outputs remain underdeveloped, especially those from children. This study introduces the Priority Experiences of Participants (PrEP) framework, a five-stage analytical approach for synthesizing multimodal co-design contributions into actionable design guidance. The framework employs the lens of affordances to identify "umbrella experiences," high-level experiential priorities. Through mixed-methods triangulation including content analysis, Q-Sort rankings, and qualitative analysis, the framework systematically synthesizes participant contributions into design guidance. The framework is illustrated through a schoolyard co-design case study with 9- to 10-year-olds. The PrEP framework provides a structured approach and accessible tools to support the effective inclusion of children in decision-making and the authentic translation of their priorities into design solutions.