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Since our last update, the ORIGIN Programme has been gathering momentum—particularly across our storytelling strand. Over the past few weeks, our Creative Research Team (CRT) have been busy working alongside our brilliant cultural partners and the growing ORIGIN Co-Designers Network to bring new stories to life for the online museum.
Stories Taking Shape
Story production has taken centre stage, with a range of compelling submissions coming in from cultural partners such as the Museum of Cornish Life. These partners play a vital role—connecting our CRT with stories held in collections & archives that resonate with ORIGIN’s themes, & supporting young people in their communities to explore & share their own narratives using the ORIGIN Co-Design Kit.
Each story submitted is creatively interpreted by our CRT for the ORIGIN platform. Currently, Creative Research Assistant Beth is developing a story about Sarah Philps, a Cornish embroiderer from the 1800s, originally submitted by a young person working with the Museum of Cornish Life.
We’ve also received our first story submissions from members of the ORIGIN Co-Designers Network! Using the Co-Design Kit, these young co-designers have been visiting museums & archives across the UK to uncover stories that speak to them. One such submission focuses on Black men’s mental health and the Barbershop Chronicles—now being brought to life by Creative Research Assistant Joe.
Peer Review in Progress
Another exciting development is that we’ve started recruiting ORIGIN Peer Reviewers. This team of young people (aged 16–24) will offer critical feedback on the stories we publish, helping ensure that they are engaging, inclusive, & reflective of diverse experiences. It’s a vital part of our co-design approach—not just inviting participation but embedding young voices throughout the creative process.
Interested in becoming a Peer Reviewer? If you’re based in the UK and passionate about storytelling, arts, culture or museums—no prior experience needed—you can sign up here.
Workshop Highlights
Workshops are also continuing to grow in number and scope. On 12th May, Sophie & Kerry from the CRT ran a session with the Creative Writing Society at Sheffield Hallam University. This workshop explored storytelling practice, & sparked great interest in our work—several participants have since joined the ORIGIN Co-Designers Network!
Last week, Creative Research Assistants Kerry, Jamie, & Beth delivered a session with SAYiT, an LGBTQ+ youth group in Sheffield. This workshop centred around LGBTQ+ narratives & invited feedback on some of our in-progress stories. We’ll be sharing more about this event soon!
Publishing a Paper
Beyond story development, our CRT are currently working on a paper for Design Issues, as part of the upcoming ‘Tangible Archives’ special issue. Our contribution reflects on the ORIGIN Co-Design Kit—a participatory tool developed by Lab4Living to support young people in accessing & reimagining museum collections.
This has been a welcome opportunity to reflect on how the Co-Design Kit functions as a ‘tangible archive’—something young people can hold, use, & shape—supporting them to discover & share stories that matter to them.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, we’re continuing to:
- Deepen our partnerships with cultural institutions across the UK
- Recruit and collaborate with Peer Reviewers to shape story development
- Run more ORIGIN workshops with young people
- Finalise and submit our paper to Design Issues
- Support our growing Co-Designers Network as they explore archives & collections
There’s still time to get involved. If you’re 16–24, UK-based, & feel you don’t always “fit in”—whether because of mental health, class, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability or other life experiences—you can join the Co-Designers Network here. No design experience is needed—just an interest in stories, museums, & how narrative can support wellbeing!
As part of the network, you’ll receive a Co-Design Kit to help you find and share meaningful stories from the archives—some of which could be featured in the ORIGIN online museum.
We’re hugely grateful to everyone who has contributed to the ORIGIN Programme so far. From submissions & feedback to co-design workshops & research—your participation is shaping a project that’s rich with lived experience & community insight. We can’t wait to share what’s next!