World Earth Day and The Living Library: Design Emergency Event

The Living Library strives to reimagine the traditional concept of a library by replacing books with real people. Unlike conventional libraries, these ‘books’ are individuals who will share their expertise and life experiences across various fields. Participants, or ‘readers’ will have a unique opportunity to interact with these people- as vessels or tomes of knowledge- and given an opportunity to gain valuable insight and share first-hand experience from individuals who bring their personal narratives and expertise to life via spoken word. Each person ‘book’ selected offers a unique insight of earth-related topics, and how more effective design can be a powerful tool for action, healing and restoration.

From a pedagogic perspective, it’s now widely understood that not everyone absorbs information effectively through words and text alone. Traditionally, the gathered life wisdom of community elders was passed down through the generations aurally. In the spirit of this tradition, engaging directly with individuals and learning from their personal experiences via the medium of spoken word adds an immediate, visceral, and indelible quality to the knowledge sharing. The Living Library project offers participants the opportunity to gain insight from various chapters of others’ lives, as a book would.

The structure

• 13.00 – 13.30 Preface, intro from project organiser Danny Aldred
• 13.30 – 17.00 Living Library fourteen books in three chapters
• 17.00 – 18.00 Epilogue, guest speaker and networking event
• 18.00 – 21.00 WSA/RSA/FCCH Networking event