Re-imagining ISGR Guldheden Library With Children: Story of The Bookworm

Dear teachers and students at the International School of Gothenburg Region (ISGR),

Hi! I am Xinyi You. A graduated MFA Child Culture Design student at the Academy of Art and Design, the University of Gothenburg. Earlier this year, I got an amazing opportunity to visit the school library and have workshops with the children. As part of my thesis project, it provided me valuable insights that helped me develop the project. I would love to share the process with you here and hopefully get some feedback from you.

Before I begin the story, I have exciting news: On October 23rd (w.43, Friday, 16.30-18.30), I will have a joint graduation event in Gothenburg, together with another child culture graduate who designed children-friendly streets. Due to the current situation, it is a two-hour closed free event that includes art-based workshops and discussions about our projects. If you are interested, please feel free to email me at xinyiyoo@gmail.com to learn more or register.

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Trained as a spatial designer, I had a huge interest in designing and developing public space. During my education at the Child Culture Design program, I focused my research on placemaking with children. Using school libraries as the main subject, my thesis project investigates the question: what kind of physical objects can be applied in a school library to improve students’ reading experience?

No one can answer this question better than the students themselves. To approach children’s participation in the topic, I used three main methods: on-site observation, on-site short workshop sessions, and a design workshop with Year-5 students.

During on-site observations and short drawing sessions, I noted that students prefer a cozy reading environment. They love to read in corners as it provides a sense of security. Also, they tend to use library furniture in their unique and creative way (Fig.1). For example, children would use the seating surface of a sofa as a writing/reading surface while sitting on the floor; they would sit facing the back and hold the book against the back support of a chair. Furniture that does not offer the potential of a variety of sitting posture seems to be less popular. Compared to sofas and armchairs, classroom desks and chairs usually get less attention.

Figure 1. Different ways of reading

The workshop with Year-5 children offered me a deeper understanding of the library furniture. The main task for students was to criticize and re-design a piece of school furniture(Fig. 2). At the end of the workshop, students had to write about their design projects. Sixty-five Year-5 students were formed into thirty-three groups. Nineteen groups chose the school library furniture as their design subjects. By interviewing students, as well as analyzing written project descriptions (Fig. 3), I abstracted guidelines for my design idea. For example, the ideal product outcome should be something modular so that it can be put together to modify the space. The shape of it should be open-ended. Meanwhile, the choice of color and fabrication implies the feeling of calm and joy.

Figure 2. Design Workshop

Figure 3. Writing Material Analysis

I came up with a series of library furniture concepts based on the design guidelines (Fig. 4). By sketching, concept model making, the tubular-shaped product idea was created. The shape of the product has a high affordance that indicates multiple ways of usage. In this way, children's reading is not limited but offered more potentials. This series of products is called Bookworm. The Bookworm offers students possibilities of different sitting postures and chances to modify the spatial setting according to their own will.

Figure 4. Design Concept

Now I am working actively to develop the project further. I am reaching out to companies that can create a prototype. I am planning to pitch the idea to design companies so I can work with design and market experts. At the same time, I am hoping to receive critics and feedbacks from you. You can contact me at xinyiyoo@gmail.com, I will be glad to hear from you.

In the end, I want to say thank you to all the librarians, teachers, and students who joined me in my design journey. I am grateful to meet all of you. I truly appreciate it.

Best regards,

Xinyi