In a partnership with the Brisbane Writer's Festival (BWF) locals are invited to have their say on the future of the city's urban development in the QUT InstaBooth installed outside the State Library by QUT between 31 August and 7 September.
The telephone booth-like structure was set up by researchers from the Urban Informatics Research Lab, School of Design, QUT Creative Industries Faculty as a research project. It will be run by BWF volunteers to capture opinions on the use and design of our public spaces to inform the Brisbane 2050: Imagining Our Future City discussion being held during the BWF.
QUT lecturer in architecture Glenda Caldwell said the InstaBooth has been located inside the ABC Studio foyer at South Brisbane before the move to the State Library.
"The aim of the InstaBooth is to employ design approaches to engage local communities in a debate on the future of their urban environment," Ms Caldwell said.
"It asks the question of Brisbane citizens what they want their city to look like in the future and how our urban development should evolve.
"The InstaBooth uses tangible and digital interactions such as multi-touch screens, projections, paper and pens, to encourage face-to-face and digitally mediated discussions.
"Engaging with the InstaBooth, visitors can activate a multi-touch screen in order to browse media, or they can write a note or draw a picture on paper to provide feedback."
The research project is a joint collaboration with the California Polytechnic State University which is creating its own InstaBooth seeking community engagement.
"The goal of this collaboration between QUT and CalPoly is to develop two InstaBooths that are specific to their local place while sharing, comparing and analysing the research, learning, and teaching experiences created through this joint project," Ms Caldwell said.
"BWF organisers will provide the questions that will be asked through the InstaBooth and all paper based notes and drawings will be collected by BWF volunteers. All the digital data will be collected by our QUT servers.
"In the end we hope hundreds of Brisbane locals will give the InstaBooth a go and have their say, giving us insight into what residents of our city want our urban spaces of the future to look like."
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
