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Workshop at Roskilde Festival 2025 — Sensory & Inclusive Design

Public workshop · Facilitation · Participatory design · Roskilde University × Roskilde Festival

I co-developed and facilitated a hands-on workshop at Roskilde Festival 2025 in collaboration with Roskilde University. The workshop invited participants to engage with the sunflower lanyard as more than a symbol — exploring how visibility, care and stigma are negotiated in public space through making, conversation and sensory experience.

Workshop facilitation Participatory design Public engagement Inclusive design Sensory experience

Context

The workshop was part of Roskilde University’s contribution to Roskilde Festival and connected to festival initiatives around sensory spaces, mental wellbeing and social sustainability. We created a small “frirum” where participants could slow down, reflect and take part in an activity that combined craft, dialogue and lived experiences of disability.

Workshop concept

Participants personalised sunflower lanyards through hands-on making (e.g., embroidery / decoration), while the facilitation framed questions such as:

  • What does it mean to be “seen” as needing consideration?
  • When does a symbol create safety — and when does it create exposure?
  • How do we show care in public spaces without demanding explanations?

The workshop created an accessible entry point to sensitive themes without requiring participants to disclose personal stories — making it possible to participate through both making and conversation.

My role

I contributed across both design and delivery of the workshop:

  • Co-developed the workshop format, flow and facilitation prompts.
  • Designed the material setup and participant experience (hands-on + reflective).
  • Helped facilitate the workshop on-site and guide participants through the activity.
  • Documented and reflected on outcomes to inform future design and research work.

Outcome & learnings

  • Public workshops can create low-threshold entry points to complex social topics — especially when participants can engage through making rather than debate.
  • Sensory and embodied formats make it easier to talk about care, stigma and visibility without forcing personal disclosure.
  • Facilitation is a design practice: the framing and pacing strongly shape what participants feel safe to share and explore.

Read the RUC feature →