Overview
I 💋 Umeå is a participatory exhibition where people show and share their cherished places in the city.
Using a large-scale, greyed-out map, individuals place markers on locations that have unique memories or feelings for them. As everyone adds their stories, the map becomes a beautiful tapestry of the city's heartbeats.
This project is a celebration of community, showcasing how each person's experience can paint a vivid picture of Umeå.
© Die Baupiloten
Visitors pinning their responses on the interactive map of the city of Umea, Sweden. Image from the exhibition at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Concept development
Design Artifacts
Crafting Workshop Surveys
DESIGN STUDIO
Die Baupiloten
📍Berlin, Germany
Why was participation key?
Participatory design is like letting everyone in a group help decide how a place should look or feel. Instead of just one person making all the choices, everyone gets to share their ideas.
Through the Umeå exhibition, people got to tell their stories about favorite spots in the city. Doing this makes everyone feel happier and closer to the place. It can also save money over time because people look after places they love more.
Elevational illustration of proposed exhibition display
© Die Baupiloten
Image from the exhibition at Bildmuseet in Umeå, Sweden
© Die Baupiloten
Design Artifacts
The project showcases 600 finely laser-cut symbols, each affixed to hand-bent wires.
When pinned, these symbols cast a delicate shadow on the greyed-out map backdrop, effectively drawing and completing the city's intimate story.