If… Filming Creativity Through Children’s Eyes in Seoul

As fathers of young children, Neil Dowling and I are constantly reminded how naturally creativity appears in everyday life. Watching our kids draw, build, and invent worlds made us think about how creativity begins. When the nternational Union of Architects invited us to create the opening film for the 2017 World Congress of Architects in Seoul, we saw an opportunity to return to that starting point. The idea behind the film was simple. We wanted to remind an audience of architects where their own creative journeys began.

Listening to Young Voices

We approached the film with curiosity rather than instruction. Talking-head interviews gave the children space to speak in their own words, without guidance or correction. Their observations felt direct, honest, and often surprising. Alongside these moments, we filmed short vignettes of kids drawing, building with Lego, and spending time in digital worlds like Minecraft. These everyday activities revealed how instinctively children think in spatial and architectural terms.

A Global City, A Shared Language

Seoul became a natural setting for this project. As an increasingly international city, it allowed us to meet children from many cultural backgrounds. That diversity reflected the global audience attending the UIA Congress. We wanted the film to feel open and inclusive. Creativity does not belong to one place or one culture, and the kids we met in Seoul made that clear.

Architecture as a Playground

Seoul also offered an incredible range of architectural settings. Traditional buildings sit next to dense residential areas, infrastructure, and contemporary architecture. We treated the city as a playground rather than a backdrop. By moving through different neighborhoods, we aimed to show how architecture shapes daily life, often in subtle ways. The city became part of the conversation, not the subject itself.

A Simple Reminder

If… is a quiet reminder that creativity starts early and often without intention. It lives in play, curiosity, and experimentation. Making this film allowed us to step back from professional routines and reconnect with that mindset. We’re grateful for the chance to open the UIA World Congress with a film that looks forward by looking back.