NLI at EDRA 56: Communicating Interdisciplinary Research-Based Design
From right to left: Zahra Zamani, Celen Pasalar, Nilda Cosco, Carla Delcambre, Matt Babb, Adam Noel, Dan Jost, Robin Moore, Rosa McDonald
The Natural Learning Initiative (NLI) participated in EDRA 56 with a substantial group of College of Design colleagues. NLI showcased five distinct but interconnected presentations at the 56th Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA 56) conference in Halifax, Canada. Spanning participatory design, regulatory navigation, childcare ecosystems, and immersive digital media, the NLI team provided a rich, interdisciplinary perspective on how spaces serving children and communities—from playgrounds to policy—shape human development and community well-being.
Kids Together! – an innovative research translation digital media short, developed by NLI’s Adam Noel and Robin Moore – is a LiDAR-based, Interactive Virtual Tour (IVT) of the universally designed Kids Together Playground. As they navigate the space, “visitors” can activate pop-up, hotspot research links, and voice-over commentary at each play setting to explore inclusive design principles remotely. At EDRA, Kids Together! was showcased at a Symposium organized by the Children, Youth, and Environments, EDRA “Knowledge Network,” and the Digital Media Shorts Program.
The first IVT was developed by Dr. Muntazar Monsur, TTU, in collaboration with NLI for childcare center outdoor spaces. Kids Together was developed by NLI with NC State’s DELTA (Distance Education Learning Technology Applications) team, demonstrating how technology can democratize access to research and extend real-world learning far beyond physical site visits.
Kids Together Playground (KTP) in Cary, NC, opened in 2000, and continues to serve as an NLI research site, previously with the Center for Universal Design, College of Design. Recently, the focus has been on the development of educational and immersive digital tools.*
A poster created by Matt Babb and Robin Moore showcased NLI’s systemic approach to naturalizing childcare centers, using the socio-ecological model to explain the multi-level structure of childcare system influences from global to local, recognizing the NLI collaborative achievement of over 220 demonstration sites across North Carolina. Since helping reframe “playgrounds” as “outdoor learning environments” in 2007 licensing policy, NLI has worked to align design innovation with North Carolina regulatory and economic realities.
Dan Jost, former NLI team member, now on the landscape faculty at Mississippi State, and Nilda Cosco (NLI) evaluated a downloadable guide that helps childcare providers navigate outdoor-related licensing regulations. With over 2,800 downloads:
- 96% of surveyed users said the guide made them more likely to recommend nature play.
- Providers praised its simplicity, calling for tailored formats by facility type.
- Focus groups highlighted its role in empowering providers to improve outdoor environments while remaining compliant.
This work connects research, landscape architecture, and policy advocacy to support systemic improvements in early childhood settings.
Nilda Cosco and Robin Moore also participated in a symposium panel exploring how EDRA has shaped careers in architecture, design, and research. Panelists described EDRA as a nurturing interdisciplinary space, where solo practitioners in behavior-focused work found collaboration and inspiration across sectors—from policy to education to public health.
Conclusion
NLI’s work entered at EDRA 56 reflected a powerful, interdisciplinary approach—blending design, research, digital media, and community engagement within an overarching communications strategy.
Whether through naturalized play areas, professional development, or policy resources, NLI’s message was clear: inclusive, sustainable design emerges when public needs, practice, and research converge.
*In partnership with DELTA, NLI produced:
- An Interactive Virtual Tour (IVT) featuring research hotspots, user narratives, and 3D exploration.
- A Deconstructed Design Model for educational use.
- An EBMAP-driven interface for applying environmental behavior mapping.
These tools extend KTP’s reach from a physical playground to a global teaching resource, blending design, psychology, and digital media.
Presentation Titles
- Kids Together Playground: Assessing and Communicating the Role of Sustainable Universal Design in Public and Professional Education (Symposia)
- Exploring EDRA’s Impact on the Career Choices of Architects (Symposia)
- Using Surveys and Focus Groups to Evaluate a Guide for Navigating the Regulatory Environment in Child Care Facilities (Symposia)
- Diversifying Childcare Center Outdoor Environments: An Evidence-Based, System Change Approach (Poster Session)
- Kids Together! Naturalized, Inclusive, Family Playscape Interactive Virtual Tour (IVT) (Media Short)
