I co-created the Curated Library with an interdisciplinary team and the local community as part of the LIBoratory Project, the first-ever public service innovation lab in Hong Kong organised by Make a Difference Asia in partnership with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Kennisland, Netherlands. 

Based at a public library in Sham Shui Po, a grassroot and diverse neighbourhood, we investigated the site, talked to the local community and tested new designs to reimagine a more inclusive, engaging library.

Public Engagement

• Conducted, edited and analysed 70+ oral interviews with local people across gender, age and ethnicities to identify service challenges

• Led an interdisciplinary team to improve accessibility of library resources

• Validated all prototypes with the local community and refined them through an iterative process

Design Development

• Curated display of library collections around the theme of food across genres to anticipate the interests and needs of different visitors

• Repurposed a mobile shelf as a dim sum trolley with books accessible on all sides

• Designed illustrated menus to connect visitors with relevant and inspiring resources

• Collected visitor feedback with simple surveys resembling restaurant order forms

Achievements

• Featured in media interviews with Ming Pao Weekly and HK01

• Critically acclaimed and piloted in 3 public libraries in Kwai Tsing from August to October 2017

• Delivered training workshop on social design methodology in June 2018

• Evolved into the Pick-a-Booket project in 3 public libraries from 2019 to 2021

• Further developed into the Book Bag Pick-n-Read project in 6 public libraries in 2021 and 2022