THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDANCE, DESIGN, AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS METHODS IN ORGANIZING CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS BASED ON NATIONAL IDENTITY
Abstract
This article analyses the theoretical and methodological foundations of designing children’s playgrounds based on national identity. The study applies affordance theory (Gibson, Staempfli, Brussoni), participatory approaches, particularly Clark and Moss’s “Mosaic Approach” methodology, and Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis model as an integrated approach. These methodologies enable a deep understanding of children’s spatial perception, needs, emotional experience, and cultural-associative views, thereby enriching the design process through empirically grounded insights. The article also examines the representation of national symbols, folkloric imagery, and cultural memory within the play environment and their role in shaping children’s cultural identity. The findings show that the combination of an affordance-based functional play environment and culturally spiritual interpretations identified through participatory methods makes it possible to create a comprehensive design model that supports children’s development, safety, and cultural identification.
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