We've moved to Camden

We’ve moved to a new co-working space. Collective Auction Rooms is a converted warehouse in the heart of Camden Town. We join a whole host of creative organisations and nonprofits across four floors.

(Photos courtesy of Camden Collective & Co-DB)

Our new address: AzuKo, Collective Auction Rooms, 5-7 Buck Street, London, NW1 8NJ

Pop by for a cuppa!

Exploring engagement for Wellcome Trust

It's a global charitable foundation developing vaccines for Ebola, insecticide-treated bednets for malaria and best practice for reducing risk of infection for frontline workers. It's an organisation that shouldn't necessarily care about people's emotional or 'unscientific' perspectives. Why would a chaotic, arguably irreplicable architecture pavilion mean so much to Wellcome Trust?

We took a look at why it does matter and what we can collectively learn about building relationships and working with communities.

It's a brave funding strategy - trust. Give someone enough money, time, autonomy and support to do what you've asked of them. This is the approach Wellcome Trust takes with their Engagement Fellowships programme to facilitate a diverse discussion around health and wellbeing. Though a catalyst for a successful engagement, this approach also leaves room for reflection and learning.

We were commissioned by artist Alex Julyan and Wellcome Trust to evaluate Poplar Pavilion; an architecture and wellbeing pop-up in Poplar's Chrisp Street Market - the centre of our own work in Tower Hamlets. The Pavilion was the culmination of Alex's three-year fellowship with the Trust.

(Photo: A. Julyan)

In the report we discuss the challenges of effectively engaging a range of stakeholders in a community, particularly those with power. We do this through the lens of Wendell Berry and other voices in design, science, health and wellbeing.

The complexity of the relationships and interactions with the Pavilion and Alex's team were captured using human-centred methods; documenting what we heard, read and observed. This resulted in a collection of personas (semi-fictional characters) that allow readers to empathise with and more deeply understand the diverse needs of all those involved.

(Photo: M. Buzzi)

“60% of our time is listening and talking. Maybe 30% is building, and 10% is other stuff”

— Alex Julyan

The Pavilion was dynamic. Throughout its life, it was described in many ways: temporary, a place to be, respite, stimulus, whimsical, useless, human-scale, as well as words indicating wellbeing: balance, connection, wonder and beauty.

Alex prioritised communication with the community. It was a process guided by a responsive and serendipitous approach to design. These are a key part of the participatory process.

“... whatever we were going to design, it was going to be in response to interaction with the community, and people. Before she [Alex] brought me on board, she was already connecting up community groups.”

— Pavilion team member

Regarding health and wellbeing we explore a range of academic topics from access to green space and environments that combat social isolation to engagements that support a sense of belonging. The health effects range from stress reduction to healthy brain development. We also remind readers that understanding impact is often complex, and that this is a humble attempt to learn and imagine.

We conclude with several key learnings for future work:

• An effective engagement takes time and consistency

Alex was able to spend several months of face-to-face interaction with the community, which allowed for trust building, design iterations and an opportunity for a legacy lasting beyond her presence there.

• Solutions should be co-created

Buy-in and support from particular stakeholders (the landlord, local health professionals, local opponents etc) was a challenge for the Pavilion team throughout, and was perhaps a result of those stakeholders not feeling included in the design process (the decision to design and build a pavilion was made before engaging those in Poplar). This is a challenge inherent in regeneration projects.

• Engagement is a balance of power and love

The Pavilion team was an example of a compassionate, responsive and present approach to engagements, however, a more strategic pathway would have led to a vested response from the other stakeholders.

• Create a clear vision for people to get behind

Alex's process was organic and dynamic - it's what defined the Pavilion. However, a lack of vision created ambiguity and therefore an apprehension to fully invest in the project, even from those who were considered supporters. This stopped people from participating fully.

(Photo: E. Andrews)

In the social impact world we use words like 'empower' and 'co-production', often with little discussion about what that actually entails, and the capacity and skills needed to facilitate that. Alex's experience in Poplar highlights how despite time, intention and a quality end product, there are still many challenges in supporting diverse groups of people to come together under a single vision for the betterment of a community.

We'd love to hear about your own stories of engagement and participation. Share with us.

To read the full report, visit our Poplar Pavilion project page.

Author: N. Ardaiz

Celebrating 4 years

In 2013 the seeds of AzuKo were planted. We discussed how design could help those in need. We asked ourselves how we could contribute. In 2014 AzuKo was born. Our mission is to design with disadvantaged communites, and empower them to create the world they dream of. 

Four years on we’re operating in the UK, Bangladesh and China, working towards this goal. Our journey so far:

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To celebrate our birthday we brought together people who champion our cause. Our AzuKo family. During the evening we shared highlights over the last four years, gave thanks and designed our future, together.

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The big give

We asked you to join us and pledge your time, skills, money, resources. Here's two wonderful commitments:

Hannah Davey

"I pledge to complete the Nuclear Race with a team championing AzuKo. Helping others who wouldn't have thought it possible to do the course themselves. I pledge to fundraise for AzuKo and get 50% of my supporters to sign up to the AzuKo newsletter."

Margherita Buzzi

"I'll make something good to eat, and sell it in the office - raising funds for AzuKo's projects."

"I'll post the work I've done with AzuKo on my social media and website to spread the word."

I'd like to pledge

I'd like to pledge...

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Your SUPER-strengths

We think our supporters are truly amazing. Let’s fully embrace our strengths, skills and different approaches. Together we can create positive social change.

That's why we created personalised pins for everyone on the night. These archetypes are just a perspective. Take what’s meaningful to you, celebrate what’s true.

Does your type allow you to reimagine what you can give to the world?

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*Inspired by Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

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Our 2017 SUPERheroes

Congratulations to these amazing individuals for their support in 2017. We salute you.

• Lucie Murray (NLA) - UK SUPERHERO

• Wang Qianqian (SIDA) - INTERNATIONAL SUPERHERO

• Si-Joe Portal (Arup) - BRINGER OF JOY

• Ed Sayce (MTT) - BIGGEST FUNDRAISER

• Elly Earl (Arup ID) - OUTSTANDING CAMPAIGNER

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Donating to create change

The raffle raised over £300, which will go to our work with JAAGO Foundation to design and build a pilot playspace for an 'online' school in rural Bangladesh.

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“‘magical’ ‘friendly’ ‘inspirational’ ‘unity’ ‘passionate’ ‘welcoming’ ‘warm’”

— one word to describe the night

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Solving wicked problems

One of our favourite parts of the evening was the 'wicked problems' brainstorm - "How might we..." You imagined fantastic possibilities for AzuKo.

We'd like to explore how to achieve them, so we're hosting a meetup to continue the brainstorm. You're all invited.

• Wednesday, 18 April

• 6.30pm - 8.30pm

• Central London

Yes, I'll join the meetup

I'd like to join the 'wicked problems' meetup

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We'd like to thank everyone who helped us put on our birthday event. A few key players:

DONORS: Upstairs @ The Department Store / Squire & Partners / Ryder / New London Architecture / Native North / Rio Cinema / Neal's Yard Remedies / Beth Ashbridge / Phill Wilson-Perkin. VOLUNTEERS: Justin Brown / Margherita Buzzi / Hannah Davey / Adam Fryett / Joao Leal / Ronnie McGibbon / Claire Moody

Here's to next year's celebration!