Circular Communities - A Post-Grad Interest Group
- Written byPost-Grad Community
- Published date 30 January 2025
The Circular Communities Interest Group invites UAL postgraduate students to collaboratively explore and design creative solutions to circular economy practices through the lens of community resourcefulness.
The primary focus is to co-create a serious game that simplifies the concept of the circular economy while making it relatable and accessible to under-represented and diverse communities.
This game will serve as a tool for education, engagement, and dialogue, connecting themes such as waste repurposing, material longevity, and cultural storytelling. Through participatory design sessions, workshops, and discussions, the group will delve into sustainable practices, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and innovative design approaches. Together, we aim to build a playful yet impactful framework that reflects lived experiences and drives positive change in urban sustainability.
Audience
This group is open to MA and PhD students across all UAL campuses, welcoming diverse disciplines such as design, fine art, fashion, architecture, communications, and beyond. Alumni and external collaborators with an interest in circular economy practices are also encouraged to engage with the group.
Initial Activity
The group will kick off with an interactive “Introduction to Circular Economy through Play” workshop, where participants will explore the principles of circularity and resourcefulness through hands-on activities and brainstorming. This session will act as a foundation for ideating game mechanics and setting the direction for the co-creation process.
Core Leaders
Winifred Ahupa (Facilitator): MA Global Collaborative Design Practice
Group Member Roles: Once the group forms, specific roles for co-leaders (such as Game Development Coordinator, Workshop Facilitator, and Research Lead) will be collaboratively defined.
If you have any questions, or would like to formally register with this Interest Group, then please contact Interest Group Leader Winnie Ahupa: w.ahupa0320231@arts.ac.uk
Post-Grad Interest Groups at UAL
UAL’s Post-Grad Community Programme supports a growing number of issue-specific, cross-disciplinary interest groups led by postgraduate students and academics.
These groups connect creatives with shared research/practice interests across different specialisms and subject areas.
Students have launched interest groups in the past to coincide with exhibitions and symposiums that they have organised under the same theme, or have used Interest Groups as a working group towards research or a standalone event or series.
Interest Groups are a great way to build new networks at UAL for MA and PhD students with shared interests, a useful tool for finding cross-disciplinary students to work with on planned projects/activities, creating new audiences and ways to formally promote your practice.