Overview
Ricebox Studio and I partnered on a bid for Culture Within Newham’s Winter Commission 2024–2025, an initiative focused on community, sustainability, and accessible creativity. From 42 applicants, we were selected as one of three finalists to present our idea to a children’s panel from Gallions, Rosetta and New City primary schools.
Ricebox Studio and I partnered on a bid for Culture Within Newham’s Winter Commission 2024–2025, an initiative focused on community, sustainability, and accessible creativity. From 42 applicants, we were selected as one of three finalists to present our idea to a children’s panel from Gallions, Rosetta and New City primary schools.
Our winning concept became The Sound Hive, an interactive synth table that transforms children’s artwork and environmental ideas into sound, light, and shared play.
Project Scope
The commission focused on strengthening community connections, improving awareness of environmental issues, and creating inclusive creative experiences for children across Newham.
The commission focused on strengthening community connections, improving awareness of environmental issues, and creating inclusive creative experiences for children across Newham.
The challenge was to design an experience that felt genuinely child-led while remaining educational and accessible. It needed to encourage collaboration, curiosity, and environmental awareness, while being intuitive enough for children of different ages and abilities to engage with confidently.
Solution
The project was developed through a series of workshops across three schools. Children were invited to create artwork using a simple traffic-light system familiar from everyday life: green for positive actions, amber for things to consider, and red for actions with environmental impact.
The project was developed through a series of workshops across three schools. Children were invited to create artwork using a simple traffic-light system familiar from everyday life: green for positive actions, amber for things to consider, and red for actions with environmental impact.
These contributions formed the foundation of the visual language and interaction design. The system allowed environmental ideas to be communicated clearly without being instructional, keeping the experience playful and exploratory.
Multiple visual directions were developed and presented back to the students. They selected a bold 8-bit inspired aesthetic, which aligned naturally with the interactive nature of the piece and reinforced a sense of ownership over the final outcome.
My Role
I co-led the project across strategy, visual direction, and execution. This included shaping the overall concept, contributing to the pitch, and co-facilitating workshops with children to inform the creative direction.
I co-led the project across strategy, visual direction, and execution. This included shaping the overall concept, contributing to the pitch, and co-facilitating workshops with children to inform the creative direction.
I translated these insights into a cohesive visual system, working across branding, graphic design, illustration, and 3D design. I designed the 3D bee character, developed the visual language of the installation, and created the graphic assets the interaction was built around.
Alongside this, I supported sound recording and the physical build of the piece, ensuring the final installation remained visually consistent and aligned with the original concept. Throughout the project, I focused on maintaining clarity, accessibility, and strong visual storytelling across every touchpoint.
Creative Decisions
• Using children’s artwork as the foundation of the visual system
• Applying a traffic-light structure to communicate environmental impact
• Letting students choose the final 8-bit visual style to create a sense of ownership
• Designing a friendly 3D character to make sustainability feel approachable
• Ensuring the interaction design was accessible and enjoyable for all ages
• Ensuring the design could travel and remain effective across different spaces
• Using children’s artwork as the foundation of the visual system
• Applying a traffic-light structure to communicate environmental impact
• Letting students choose the final 8-bit visual style to create a sense of ownership
• Designing a friendly 3D character to make sustainability feel approachable
• Ensuring the interaction design was accessible and enjoyable for all ages
• Ensuring the design could travel and remain effective across different spaces
Outcome
The Sound Hive launched at Beckton Globe Library, welcoming over 100 visitors on opening day. Children engaged with the installation through play, collaboration, and experimentation, filling the space with sound and activity.
The Sound Hive launched at Beckton Globe Library, welcoming over 100 visitors on opening day. Children engaged with the installation through play, collaboration, and experimentation, filling the space with sound and activity.
The project continues to tour libraries, schools, and science fairs across Newham, extending its impact beyond the original commission and providing an ongoing platform for creative engagement and environmental awareness.
