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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Design framework and principles for learning environment co-design: Synthesis from literature and three empirical studies

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Funding Information: The research was funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation through the Indoor Environment Program (2011?2014), the Finnish Cultural Foundation?s Central Finland Regional Fund (2013?2018), and the Finnish Foundation for Municipal Development (2020?22). Funding Information: Funding: The research was funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation through the Indoor Environment Program (2011–2014), the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Central Finland Regional Fund (2013–2018), and the Finnish Foundation for Municipal Development (2020–22). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The need for environments conducive to learning and wellbeing has been broadly recog-nised. Considering particularly learner perceptions in the learning environment design is known to improve both their learning and wellbeing. There are no, however, shared theoretical frameworks guiding the learning environment co-design from the learner perspective. As a response to this challenge, a learning environment design (LED) framework was developed based on the literature and co-design involving learners aged 7 to 19 (n = 342) in Finland (n = 266) and Spain (n = 76). The LED framework entails 53 characteristics grouped under seven constructs. It draws attention to the importance of balancing communality with individuality, comfort with health, and novelty with conventionality. Flexibility and functionality are recognised as central enablers for a quality learning environment. The study suggests a design framework and principles for learning environment co-design. They can serve as a research-based introduction to the topic after which priorities can be defined based on the concrete design target and goals, and concrete design solutions can be created in the participatory design involving learners and other key stakeholders. Peer reviewed