A new look for our infant feeding and changing space
We're excited to share the new look for our infant feeding area, designed in collaboration with Dundee International Women’s Centre.
We're excited to unveil the colourful new look for our infant feeding and changing area, designed in collaboration with Dundee International Women’s Centre’s (DIWC) Flourish group and local designer Louise Kirby.
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Over the last few months, our Learning team have been working with parents from DIWC’s Flourish group to revamp the feeding and changing space on the ground floor of our building. Designer Louise Kirby was brought on board to help the group with the design process. In sessions with Louise the group explored shapes and patterns inspired by a trip to University of Dundee’s Botanic Gardens, and learned new creative skills such as collage, colour-mixing and pattern creation.
Through this process, the group came up with several different options for the space. These were put on display in our Create Space, with visitors and community groups invited to provide feedback and vote for their favourite design.
The final design features calming green and yellow walls with motifs of flowers, plants and leaves added using colourful and patterned vinyl. The space comprises of a feeding area with comfy chair, changing area with free resources for visitors including nappies and baby wipes, and a gender-neutral toilet.
To celebrate the completion of the project, the Flourish group got together at DCA to view new look of the space and catch up with the project team over tea, coffee and cake in Create Space. They also had the chance to try screen-printing different designs onto tote bags and the wee ones enjoyed some sensory play.
Participants from the group shared feedback about the project, saying that they “felt valued” and “enjoyed learning new skills”, and that “It was such an honour to have this opportunity to take part in this project.”
Salma Hanif Gani, Family Learning Project Worker from DIWC said:
To have the DIWC learners feel included in planning the infant feeding room has had a massive impact on the learner’s confidence. The group feedback has been excellent.
Lynne McBride, DCA’s Learning Coordinator, shared that:
It was an absolute pleasure watching Louise guide the Flourish group learners through the design process. The flourish learners worked well together, creating some beautiful leaf drawings and cut outs inspired by their trip to the botanic gardens. Having Louise’s artistic vision to collate all of the women’s ideas into a cohesive design was incredibly important and her consideration of those who would use the infant feeding/changing and gender-neutral toilet area made for a joyful design that fits the needs of the users and that DCA is incredibly proud of.
...a joyful design that fits the needs of the users and that DCA is incredibly proud of.Lynne McBride DCA's Learning Coordinator
Louise Kirby also shared her experience of working on the project:
I’m delighted with how the space has been transformed to be lighter, brighter and more welcoming, inspired by the ideas of the Dundee International Women’s Centre’s Flourish group. I enjoyed taking the women on a journey through the design process to come up with ideas, explore colours and consider the people who use the space.
A huge thank you to all of the members of the Flourish group for their enthusiasm and creativity, to Louise Kirby for bringing all the designs together and to Robertson Signs for installing the work.
We had a great time welcoming the group to view and celebrate the space, with the project featuring on STV News. The space can be found on the ground floor beside the accessible toilet - we hope you enjoy using it.