Room to Rethink

As the year draws to a close, we have been reflecting on our work in the museums and cultural sector, and the challenges and power imbalances that these institutions must confront. The reality that so many have profited from deeply rooted colonial legacies and continue to do so is something that must be publicly acknowledged and tackled head on in order to move forward and honour the many communities that have no choice but to be reminded of this every time they visit these communal spaces.

For the past year, we have been conducting research into what museums and science centres can do in order to remain relevant for future citizens. We have been impressed by the commitment to change that those we are working with have expressed, and we are excited to see more and more organisations joining the conversation.

Room to Rethink at the Museum of the Home is one of a number of projects that have sprung from our work in this space. It embodies the kind of responsive and experiential programming that our research has shown must be embraced — such as providing complete transparency about institutional systems and encouraging an open dialogue in which public audiences have a visible stake in their futures. We know that the continued presence of the Geffrye Statue has caused pain and friction between the local community and the Museum of the Home.

Room to Rethink is intended as a tool that will enable productive discourse and reflection around this and more. It is encouraging that the museum wants to listen better and grow with their community in mind, and we are pleased to see in their latest update that the Geffrye Statue is moving.

As a purpose-led organisation at the forefront of design thinking, it is our job to work with brands and institutions to engage audiences in uncomfortable topics and support agency and reciprocity. We know that in order to create change, you cannot shut down dialogue and we are committed to working tirelessly with our partners to ensure that local communities are represented and heard in all facets of our work. Everyone has a stake in what we create for the future, and we invite you to have your say.