Collaboration
Project Introduction
The Great & Grand Rumpus was a large-scale participatory exhibition hosted by the State Library of Queensland (SLQ). Beginning with the imaginative worlds created by children, the project transformed their fantastical characters and stories into large cardboard installations, illustrations, and immersive experiences.
The project brought together designers, educators, community participants, and interns in a collaborative process, resulting in an exhibition that was playful, creative, and full of wonder.
Experience & Learning
The Great & Grand Rumpus was a meaningful project where design played a central role in uniting diverse professional voices. My focus was on translating ideas from curators, educators, and production teams into a consistent visual language that supported both creativity and practicality. Through this, I was able to demonstrate how design thinking bridges disciplines, strengthens collaboration, and enhances the audience’s experience.
What made the outcome significant was not only the playful, imaginative exhibition that delighted the community, but also the way it showed how design can create lasting cultural value — transforming children’s ideas into tangible experiences that inspired both participants and visitors alike.
From my perspective, the timing made this project even more special. It was just after the quiet period of COVID restrictions, when opportunities to come together again felt precious. We had to work with masks on, balancing safety with creativity, but that only deepened our sense of connection. Touching the materials, sharing ideas face-to-face again, and co-creating under these conditions gave me a stronger appreciation of design as a bridge between people. This experience reminded me how design is not only about visuals but also about enabling collaboration and human warmth, even in challenging times.
