Stop telling, start listening - Helping libraries make better design decisions

The Creative Lab is our specialist service division providing a comprehensive consultation and workshop service to public libraries and the Education sector.

The tomorrow people. Above - young designers plan the layout of the Powerhouse Library, Moss Side, Manchester.

The Creative Lab can offer design and consultation services to help you with:

Engaging stakeholders in the design process

Listening to end users through creative workshops

Working with library teams and library users

Facilitating and managing workshop events

Analysis, feedback and presentation of findings

Fulfilling the consultation process

Creating the relevant library interior, based on feedback

Community Engagement at the Powerhouse Library, Moss Side, Manchester

Listening to young people (8-25 years) was a very important part of the design process when creating the new Powerhouse Library at Moss Side, Manchester. Groups of young people, recruited by the library team, participated in a series of workshops and consultation sessions with architects, designers and library staff.

The Creative Lab carried out a workshop with some young people at the Powerhouse, where they talked about furnishings, colour and fabrics, and created some of their own signage ideas. The findings from this and other workshops formed an important basis for Demco’s layout, design and furnishings which has resulted in a ‘cool’ library space that has been designed by the young people who are now in there and using it!

They've got the power. Images from Moss Side Powerstation Library, designed with the involvement of young users, facilitated by The Creative Lab. 

Stones gathering no moss.  Left, Pebble seats in a variety of colours created a welcoming and interesting place to perch at the Powerstation, Moss Side. Counterpoint. A bar type counter creates a modern place to surf and study.

Lisa Powell, Young People’s Services Manager for Manchester Libraries said: “Involving young people, and using their ideas as an integral part of the design process has given us a library we are all very proud of.”

Follow the New Libraries For Manchester link at http://www.manchester.gov.uk/libraries for more information about the Powerhouse Library.

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Andy Parker, Sales and Marketing Director, Demco Interiors explains the reason for our approach:

 ‘It has become increasingly important for both ourselves, as designers of library interiors, and libraries to take a proactive approach to listening and learning from end users.  If we are to continue to engage and connect with people that come into libraries we have to learn more about their expectations and what are the key triggers to being turned onto a library and just as importantly what might be turning them off.’

The Creative Lab offer has been designed to be flexible either to bolt into a libraries existing consultation process or as a stand alone where the process can be entirely handled by ourselves.

Hue and try: Above, Librarians explore layout planning practices and work with the principles of colour theory at a Demco Design Workshop, hosted by Demco Interiors.

The Creative Lab team member Jane Grimwood (a member of the Market Research Society and with a wealth of experience in designing and facilitating research projects in business-to-business and business to consumer environments) gives her view:  

“Our objective is to bring a professional approach to carrying out consultations so that we can feel confident in the findings to make important decisions about the designs of our libraries.  Our objective is to help ourselves and libraries to make better design decisions”  

To learn more, please contact us at Demco Interiors.