The Social Design Unit initiates a new DFF-funded research project focusing on children (aged 6-10) in grief due to parental loss. As a central part of the project, PhD researcher Kirstine Skov Hansen will be responsible for studying children’s grief support needs and co-designing and pilot testing a tool for grief group practitioners. The project will be co-managed by Associate Professor Eva Knutz and Professor Thomas Markussen.During the online event you will get to know the new Marie Curie-funded CoDesign4Transitions Doctoral Network and learn more about the all 13 new Ph.D. positions. The speakers will be Lucy Kimbell, Professor of Contemporary Design Practices at the University of the Arts London, Marzia Mortati, Vice Director of the Design Department at the Politecnico di Milano and Carolina Giraldo, Learning Designer & Producer at EIT Climate-KIC.

The relevance of this PhD project is founded upon empirical studies showing that each year 2000 children under 18 years lose a parent, which exposes them more frequently to adverse health and social outcomes. To mitigate these adverse collateral effects 144 grief support groups are established in Denmark. However, limited knowledge exists of young children’s grief and support needs and practitioners lack evidence-based tools and interventions.

The new tool will be co-designed with young children and grief support practitioners from Tønder Municipality and The Danish National Center for Grief (DNCG).

Grant ID: 10.46540/3167-00031B