Community Memory Week 2
Community Memory Week 2
Community Memory Week 2
celebrating southwark's best kept secrets
Macro Unit
System Design
System Design
Team & Duration
Team & Duration
Team & Duration
Anushka, Anwesha, Angelina, Ojaswi, Sakshi, Sarthak, Chen Chen, Lissy, Wuyou, Ellen
Anushka, Anwesha, Angelina, Ojaswi, Sakshi, Sarthak, Chen Chen, Lissy, Wuyou, Ellen
Anushka, Anwesha, Angelina, Ojaswi, Sakshi, Sarthak, Chen Chen, Lissy, Wuyou, Ellen
13th Feb - 19th Feb
13th Feb - 19th Feb
13th Feb - 19th Feb
THE brief
THE brief
THE brief
Design a local memory preservation & information sharing system inspired by and integrated with a local library collection.
Design a local memory preservation & information sharing system inspired by and integrated with a local library collection.
Design a local memory preservation & information sharing system inspired by and integrated with a local library collection.
We spent some time researching ongoing workshops and discussing potential activities we could organise within the library. We wanted to attend various workshops to understand how communities were being built through such events. Even kids’ workshops seemed to help parents and caregivers connect with each other. We were curious about how these interactions happened and what made them effective—be it talks, seminars, or homework groups.
We spent some time researching ongoing workshops and discussing potential activities we could organise within the library. We wanted to attend various workshops to understand how communities were being built through such events. Even kids’ workshops seemed to help parents and caregivers connect with each other. We were curious about how these interactions happened and what made them effective—be it talks, seminars, or homework groups.
Different activities we wanted to organise (images for visual representation - AI generated)
Revisiting the brief
Revisiting the brief
However, we eventually decided to drop the idea of organising activities ourselves. We realised we lacked a solid reason for doing them beyond studying interaction. It felt like a good idea on the surface, but it wasn’t grounded in a clear purpose.
That led us to pause and go back to the brief. After the feedback we received last Thursday, we had unintentionally begun focusing too much on the ‘community’ angle. But the actual brief was about information sharing and memory preservation.
Community could be a by-product of a well-designed system— but not the main goal. This realisation helped us focus better.
However, we eventually decided to drop the idea of organising activities ourselves. We realised we lacked a solid reason for doing them beyond studying interaction. It felt like a good idea on the surface, but it wasn’t grounded in a clear purpose.
That led us to pause and go back to the brief. After the feedback we received last Thursday, we had unintentionally begun focusing too much on the ‘community’ angle. But the actual brief was about information sharing and memory preservation.
Community could be a by-product of a well-designed system— but not the main goal. This realisation helped us focus better.
However, we eventually decided to drop the idea of organising activities ourselves. We realised we lacked a solid reason for doing them beyond studying interaction. It felt like a good idea on the surface, but it wasn’t grounded in a clear purpose.
That led us to pause and go back to the brief. After the feedback we received last Thursday, we had unintentionally begun focusing too much on the ‘community’ angle. But the actual brief was about information sharing and memory preservation.
Community could be a by-product of a well-designed system— but not the main goal. This realisation helped us focus better.
We started asking ourselves some fundamental questions. What are we trying to solve via this project? Personally, I was struggling to find that answer here. After discussing with the team, we agreed that we first needed to understand why a new information-sharing system was even necessary. There are already many systems—so what’s missing?
One issue that came up with this library & its artefacts was discoverability among its local residents.
We started asking ourselves some fundamental questions. What are we trying to solve via this project? Personally, I was struggling to find that answer here. After discussing with the team, we agreed that we first needed to understand why a new information-sharing system was even necessary. There are already many systems—so what’s missing?
One issue that came up with this library & its artefacts was discoverability among its local residents.
We started asking ourselves some fundamental questions. What are we trying to solve via this project? Personally, I was struggling to find that answer here. After discussing with the team, we agreed that we first needed to understand why a new information-sharing system was even necessary. There are already many systems—so what’s missing?
One issue that came up with this library & its artefacts was discoverability among its local residents.
Ideating the system
Ideating the system
We saw two ways that memory preservation and information sharing could work. One was information sharing followed by memory preservation. For this, we thought of creating a passport with an itinerary of hidden spots — recommended by the locals of Southwark — encouraging students and kids to explore their local area. They’d have to visit every place and come back to collect stamps from the library.
We saw two ways that memory preservation and information sharing could work. One was information sharing followed by memory preservation. For this, we thought of creating a passport with an itinerary of hidden spots — recommended by the locals of Southwark — encouraging students and kids to explore their local area. They’d have to visit every place and come back to collect stamps from the library.
Local passport with stamp collection
Local passport with stamp collection
Local passport with stamp collection
The other was memory preservation first, followed by information sharing — asking people to share something they’ve preserved for a long time with the library and tell the story behind it. We imagined displaying these items with their stories in the temporary collection section of Walworth Library. To make it more immersive, we also thought of creating an audio-visual show and projecting these stories on the library walls. This would create a unique juxtaposition of Southwark then vs. Southwark now — revealing what people have chosen to preserve and value over time, and uncovering the personal stories behind those memories.
The other was memory preservation first, followed by information sharing — asking people to share something they’ve preserved for a long time with the library and tell the story behind it. We imagined displaying these items with their stories in the temporary collection section of Walworth Library. To make it more immersive, we also thought of creating an audio-visual show and projecting these stories on the library walls. This would create a unique juxtaposition of Southwark then vs. Southwark now — revealing what people have chosen to preserve and value over time, and uncovering the personal stories behind those memories.
Southwark then vs Southwark Now
Southwark then vs Southwark Now
Southwark then vs Southwark Now
The feedback we received was positive, though the relevance of the AR and projections was questioned. We were advised to find a bridge between both ideas to make them work together—otherwise we risked overcomplicating it.
The feedback we received was positive, though the relevance of the AR and projections was questioned. We were advised to find a bridge between both ideas to make them work together—otherwise we risked overcomplicating it.
Next steps & questions to think about
Next steps & questions to think about
How does the digital component meaningfully connect to the physical experience? Could a fully tactile, multisensory approach be more effective?
The term passport is politically loaded — what might be a more inclusive name that captures the same intent?
Would integrating a library card into the zine work better and help it feel like a complete, cohesive structure?
We also want to consider the impact of collectibles — do they encourage healthy engagement or foster unintended competition, and does that align with our goals?
How does the digital component meaningfully connect to the physical experience? Could a fully tactile, multisensory approach be more effective?
The term passport is politically loaded — what might be a more inclusive name that captures the same intent?
Would integrating a library card into the zine work better and help it feel like a complete, cohesive structure?
We also want to consider the impact of collectibles — do they encourage healthy engagement or foster unintended competition, and does that align with our goals?
References
References
References
@kateofthevalley (2024) How to make a zine: step by step tutorial (easy). 15 March. Available at: https://youtube.com/shorts/r089jvy6Ts0?si=PLSST0oBxiCO697A
@kateofthevalley (2024) How to make a zine: step by step tutorial (easy). 15 March. Available at: https://youtube.com/shorts/r089jvy6Ts0?si=PLSST0oBxiCO697A
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
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SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN
SYSTEM DESIGN
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.