Student Design Awards winners: Collective imagination
Brief 5: How might we build the capacity and capability of local communities to collectively imagine the future they desire?
Winners:
- Roma Futurism Museum - Mara Ungurean, University of the Arts London, England
- Our Community, Our Future - Rhiannon Beddoe, Imperial College London, England
Roma Futurism Museum is a digital exhibition space which provides and promotes a vision about the future of Romani people. It is done in collaboration with the Giuvlipen Feminist Theatre and the surrounding community, combining virtual reality, live theatre and experimental installations. Visitors will be able to learn about the community and the emerging anti-racist movement while platforming activists and artists. This project aims to offer alternative spaces where Romani people can represent themselves, preserve their culture, speculate and take control of their own future.
Mara Ungurean
University of the Arts London, England
The RSA Fellows’ award of £2,000
In the UK, 42 percent of individuals say they have no influence at all over local decision-making. Psychological Ownership Theory suggests that the more someone feels ownership towards their community, the more they will contribute to the community’s well-being. The Our Community toolkit aims to cultivate this feeling of ownership. It gives facilitators, place-makers, and community champions the tools they need to create initiatives that promote ownership among residents. The toolkit describes the theory, gives examples and case studies and provides activity canvases that help evaluate existing initiatives and design new ones. The toolkit was tested in Ebbsfleet, Kent and has received the pilot award to do further testing!
Highly Commended
Lois Blackwell, Manchester Metropolitan University, England
Reimagining the Redevelopment: A multifunctional hub which exhibits workshop outcomes and encourages community members to collectively imagine through an exploration of the senses.
Commended
Asia Cheung and Enya Schaefer, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland
Hestia Hub: A service providing the knowledge and tools to help guide the Irish student community to collectively imagine their student living cooperative.
Commended
Sarah Caulfield, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland
The BLAH BLAH BLAH Net: A campaign and educational installation reusing abandoned fishing rope to help the local community imagine and build their collective future.
