Recording Public Engagement Through Live Illustration
Public engagement can guarantee project success. We believe social research increases transparency, trust, and understanding. It helps organisations to produce outcomes which truly respond to their audience’s needs.
We were commissioned by Grosvenor Group (property and estate managers) to record this vital research at Bermondsey Carnival in Southwark Park. In August 2021, Grosvenor Group hosted an interactive workshop with families to understand their hopes and expectations of their living environments.
The research will inform Grosvenor’s development of the former biscuit factory in Bermondsey. So — appropriately — children were asked to design their dream biscuit using craft supplies. This co-design helped to foster discussions around place-making and promote the project.
Why use visual note-taking?
Buttercrumble were Grosvenor Group’s eyes and ears. We listened carefully to conversations and could record the findings in a nonintrusive way. It is not always possible to photograph or video children so illustration offers a sensitive solution.
Furthermore, many families wanted to take home the biscuits they crafted as a memento of the day. Our illustrations act as a permanent record of the biscuit designs and can offer more context than a photograph.
The impact
Our illustrations not only help to improve the new property development through answering the community’s needs, they also demonstrate this public engagement to stakeholders. This guarantees the project’s commercial viability for investors who are looking for evidence-based solutions.
The research could be presented in a visually exciting format and, in turn, helped to secure approval. Grosvenor Group are now able to introduce 1,548 new rental homes to Bermondsey, London.
Buttercrumble is proud to perform visual note-taking, scribing, and live illustration in London (and beyond)! We are passionate about the positive impact of co-design and public engagement and this needs to be seen to be done. Visual scribing is the perfect recording tool for conferences, events, and workshops.
We’d love to support you!
Please do get in touch if you’d like visual note-taking support at your next workshop or event. We’ll capture the legacy for years to come.
