November 2024 | Guest Participant

(Echoes of Symbiosis – L. Cepeda, L. Williams, G. A. Solanki)

CILIP Green Libraries conference Delegate at The British Library.

Presentation of MA research titled “Echoes on symbiosis” as Part of Rachael Brown’s Keynote lecture ‘HopePunk’  - How interior spaces can be used as tools to spread awareness and inclusivity through Community outreach and sustainable practice.

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I am incredibly grateful for this module’s impact on both my academic journey and personal development. Led by Rachael Brown and inspired by Rob Hopkins, it challenged us to reimagine latent urban spaces as vibrant, sustainable, and community-centered environments.

Engaging with the hopepunk ethos—an ideology that champions radical optimism and collective action—we explored artists' books and zines as a way to express ideas and challenge existing practices. This process encouraged creative autonomy and deeper material experimentation. Alongside this, I independently investigated circular economy principles through papermaking and natural dyeing,  examining how sustainable material processes could inform design thinking. Collaborating with peers enriched this experience further, as we shared knowledge and broadened our understanding of community dynamics from an international perspective.

This exploration led us to study mycelium structures—an innovative, bio-based material with the potential to reshape sustainable design and construction. What began as a curiosity evolved into a hands-on investigation of its properties, applications, and limitations. The freedom to experiment with unfamiliar materials pushed my practice beyond conventional approaches and encouraged me to embrace uncertainty as part of the creative process. More than anything, this module reinforced my belief in the value of exploration, iteration, and the unexpected connections that emerge when we allow ourselves to step beyond the familiar.

A pivotal moment was presenting our collaborative project, Echoes of Symbiosis, at the British Library during the CILIP Green Libraries conference in November 2024 on behalf of my peers. The project explored resilience and interconnectedness, drawing inspiration from lichen’s symbiotic nature—a fitting metaphor for the way knowledge, ideas, and creativity intertwine.

Standing in a space dedicated to knowledge and storytelling, sharing our hopeful narratives, felt like a rare moment of being truly heard and understood. To have our ideas not only acknowledged but actively engaged with—by an audience willing to listen, question, and reflect—was incredibly meaningful. Hearing people come alive with their own ideas, imagining how they could adapt this practice for community outreach in their local libraries, reinforced the power of shared knowledge and collective action. It was an experience that felt both significant and uncommon. It reinforced the importance of being heard in shaping the future and reminded me that design, at its core, is about communication, connection, and the power of collective imagination.

This module has fundamentally reshaped my approach to interior architecture and design. It reinforced my belief that our work extends beyond aesthetics; it has the power to shift mindsets and strengthen community resilience. The lessons learned have instilled in me a commitment to integrating hope and activism into my future projects—creating spaces that not only serve but also inspire.

In essence, HopePunk was more than an academic exercise; it was a transformative journey that empowered us to envision and advocate for a more hopeful, sustainable urban future.

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Abstract

"In the race against climate  collapse, cultivating HOPE becomes  imperative for instigating change.  Political inertia and climate  change denial have hindered  progress in a matter that requires  urgent RESPONSE.  While change is gradual, it is the  collective responsibility of both  governments and global citizens  to take tangible steps towards  mitigating the climate crisis.  Underscoring the importance  of collective action and  solidarity in crafting ‘hopepunk’  narratives, Madsen (2019) suggests  that fostering collaboration,  connectivity, and altruism can  strengthen social cohesion and  inclusion — vital elements for  societal RESILIENCE during times  of CRISIS. (Karandinou, 2023a).  As part of the Call X Response  collaboration, Response is dedicated  to the design of community-built  pavilions as a unified response to  the urgent climate crisis. Drawing  inspiration from the resilience  of lichens as bioindicators of  atmospheric pollution, our pavilions  serve as tangible embodiments of hope,  resilience and interconnectedness  amidst the daunting environmental  threats." 

"The THREE CORE OBJECTIVES are: 

To foster engagement and connection  among all planetary beings through  PLAY, utilizing both planned design  interventions and spontaneous,  adaptive intra-actions. 

To strengthen community bonds and  foster a sense of belonging through  social and creative interactions,  including the design of inclsuive  participatory workshops.

To initiate small-scale interventions  designed to raise awareness and  inspire gradual, lasting shifts in  daily behaviors, fostering a culture  of sustainability that evolves over  time."