A ruota libera!

How can we make the city a safer, more inclusive place tailored to the needs of children? That’s the challenge we embraced with A ruota libera!, a civic activation and co-design workshop created by OpenDot in collaboration with the Massa Marmocchi association, as part of Milano Kids Design Week 2025.

On April 12, in the OpenDot space, A ruota libera! took place — an afternoon of dialogue, creativity, and participation dedicated to children aged 6 to 11.
Through games, drawings, and collective reflections, the young participants shared their perspective on the city: what makes them feel safe, what worries them, and what they would like to change about their daily journeys.

Together with Massa Marmocchi, they reimagined urban signage and designed an official mascot for the group — a symbol of belonging, but also a bold visual message, capable of standing out in public space.

The workshop was the first step in a broader journey aimed at making urban mobility more sustainable and truly accessible for all ages.
OpenDot will now transform the ideas that emerged during the workshop — signs, symbols, and wishes — into concrete visual tools, ready to live in the urban space and raise awareness among citizens.

The project culminated in a large public parade during Bicicivica Milano 2025: a moment of celebration, sharing, and activism open to all the children of the city. In this context, OpenDot and Massa Marmocchi brought the voices and visions of the youngest citizens to the streets, reimagining urban mobility through their eyes.

The parade served as a creative outcome of the "A ruota libera!" workshop: the ideas developed during the sessions were transformed into colorful symbols to be attached to bicycles, designed directly by the participating children.

It was a moment of joy, participation, and shared vision: a city imagined from the perspective of its youngest inhabitants is, without a doubt, a better city for everyone.