As part of a semester abroad course, we set out to discover Brixton, a district of south London, and learn about its community and history. We used ethnographic design research and a participatory design approach
to find design opportunities that directly address the community's needs and sense of identity.
#smarterlondon
Collaborators: Zoe Gan, Isabelle Gulick, and Lindsey Moskowitz | Time Frame: February - May 2015 | Featured on: Smarter London Design Exhibition, 2015
discovering brixton
Upon exploring the area, we quickly learned that Brixton is a multi-cultural area full of life and energy. The Afro-Caribbean community makes up much of Brixton’s generation today.
Brixton is mainly a residential area, and it also houses many small and new ventures. However, gentrification has been affecting Brixton since the 1990s, and, consequently, housing in Brixton is becoming less affordable for current Brixton residents.
​
In 2015, an ongoing eviction campaign began, as Network Railways announced its plans to redevelop the arches that house many local shops. These shops, as well as Brixton’s markets, are part of what makes Brixton a unique place.
brixton is...
Diversity
Unique
Local Art
Delicious Food
Multi-Cultural
Multi-Lingual
Full of Life
Energetic
Colorful
Developing
Gentrification
Mapping brixton
Our team mapped out some of the more frequented social, religious, entertainment, education, and shopping spaces, as well as food markets. We did this in order to understand and assess what kind of resources and services are available for Brixton locals within their own community.
​
We observed that the five most frequented locations were: (1) Brixton Market, (2) Brixton Library, (3) Brixton Village, (4) Lambeth Town Hall, and (5) Brockwell Park.
markets + retail
social +
entertainment
Resources + religious
matthew
Lives in Brixton
Works in Brixton
“It is my home. This is where I grew up and where I will stay! ... I have to look out for what is best for my community and people.”
terry
Lives in Brixton
Works in Brixton
"Brixton is not so much about the money, but about staying local and maintaining its originality.”
David
Works in Brixton
"New shops and restaurants are opening up, and some are even causing older shops to go out of business.”
RIA
Lives in Brixton
“Brixton is very multi-cultural, and its unique diversity is what brings liveliness to the community."
karen
Lives in Brixton
Works in Brixton
“Brixton used to have more racial and cultural mixing, but now it is whiter than it used to be.”
Graison
Works in Brixton
"Over the past few years, the area has been going through much gentrification, which has caused it to become more expensive quite rapidly.”
Building Relationships
In order to understand the social and behavioral contexts of Brixton and Brixtoners, we set out to establish relationships with locals. Some of these relationships we were able to sustain as long-term relationships, while others were rather temporary. Nonetheless, by fostering these relationships we were able to begin to develop a network, which we were then able to expand through social media.
We created the username @BetterinBrixton so that we could use social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, to digitally share our experiences, questions, and feedback about Brixton. These platforms also served as a medium to gather insights about the history, culture, and growth of Brixton.
Throughout our research process, we attracted more followers and became known to the area, especially Brixton Village Market.
mark the map!
Mark the Map encouraged visitors and residents of Brixton to share their favorite places in the area by writing the name of the places on stickers and placing them on the map. Participants, consequently, felt eager to share with us their stories about the highlighted places.
#better in brixton
We used a participatory approach to engage with visitors and locals alike. Upon constructing a physical “Instagram” frame, we brought it to Brixton Village so that people would give us their hashtags and take photos with it. This probe was the most successful, as we were able to observe the potential of the Brixton community and engage with their excitement.
Market survey
The Market Survey consisted of slips with a series of questions including: (1) age, (2) gender, (3) Where in London do you live?, and (4) What is your favorite thing about Brixton?. We placed the boxes in various shops around the Market for people and shop owners to fill in. The data we collected provided us an overall view of the variety of people that visit the market.
How can design promote a stronger and more united Brixton by embracing its unique identity and using local resources?
We designed a series of products and services that could help the Brixton community work together to become stronger and more unified, survive its current monetary hardships, continue to stand out as one of London’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods, and hold onto it’s unique and adored identity.
Brixton Recipes
Many shop owners at Brixton Village have to compete with grocery store prices and accessibility. In order to promote them, we suggest the creation of ‘Brixton Recipes’ App paired with a reward system. The app would support shop owners by featuring a weekly recipe that uses ingredients available at Brixton’s markets. It would indicate users where to purchase the produce within the markets, as well as step by step instructions to make the recipe.
#Brixtonvillage
To further encourage people’s love for Brixton, a mural could be implemented where people could write what Brixton means to them. Additionally, there could be a digital screen with tweets about Brixton, as well as a digital map that displays geotagged Instagrams. The goal of these services is to encourage fun and adventure within the Village by sharing and discovering Brixton’s hidden gems.
community Event series
An event series at the Village could serve as a way for the Brixton community to re-connect to the Village. The gatherings would be inspired by the rich culture and diversity present in Brixton. The variety of events would include a cook-off, a fashion show, a scavenger hunt for products in the Village, and a family craft night. All the events would use materials and ingredients sourced from the Brixton Village shops.
Space for emerging entrepreneurs
Brixton is home to many emerging entrepreneurs with a variety of skills. There could be a space for emerging entrepreneurs in Brixton Village where individuals could test their ideas. Existing shop owners would serve as mentors for aspiring entrepreneurs. Additionally, to inspire future entrepreneurs, Brixtoners could put together a video series of stories of Brixton’s successful business owners and their stories.