Since the Florence Knoll paste-ups of the 1960s and the invention of post-its in 1977, the idea of using paper as a way to manipulate ideas has expanded massively. If you do interesting things with paper, post-its, digital canvases, e-paper, cards or anything related to this, let's explore and learn together. The last edition, Papercamp 3 was a lot of fun. I hope you'll join me for this year's edition again.

Agenda:

10:30am Doors open
11:00 Start
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Keeps going (probably a break)
17:00 End and move to the pub

Talks:

From Information to Narratives
Jesper Authen, Collections manager at Drawing Matter
The design drawing is commonly viewed as a transmitter of information and instructions in service of a final outcome, with the drawing sheet itself frequently overlooked. But what can the hundreds of preceding sketchbooks and loose sheets—each riddled with speculation, doubt, and failed ideas—teach us about the built environment that the finished works cannot? In this talk, I will speak about Drawing Matter's approach to acquiring, archiving, and communicating architecture and design drawings, and how it may ultimately lead to better architects and designers.

Let's draw together
Eva-Lotta Lamm, visual artist
We're taking paper (and pen) to its simplest form. We'll do a playful drawing exercise with the goal of surprising ourselves by what we create. And we'll round it off by creating our own little paper zine that collects our best ideas.

Paper and People: Newspapers as a Tool for Building Community
Kaye Symington, CMO of Newspaper Club
Newspapers, once considered mass media, are now powerful hyperlocal tools for creating emotional, lasting connections. Through the lens of Newspaper Club and projects like Vocal Type, Papier, and Design Declares, we’ll look at how communities, brands, and creatives are using newsprint to foster shared experiences that digital alone can’t replicate. From one-off zines to grassroots storytelling, print becomes a site of exploration, a souvenir of a moment, and a medium that invites people in.

Just Enough Friction:Why Digital Needs the Physical
Adrian Westaway, co-founder of Special Projects
A meandering story of experimental projects that bring digital experiences to life through physical interaction, some of them using paper!

Fragmentary Forms: A New History of Collage
Dr. Freya Gowrley, University of Bristol
She'll discuss her recently published book on collage, an artistic technique in which paper was essential. The book offers a new, global perspective on one of the world’s oldest and most enduring means of cultural expression, tracing the rich history of collage from its ancient origins to its uses today as a powerful tool for storytelling and explorations of identity.

Origami and Orientalism
Marcus Ho, artist and contributor to Big Straw Magazine
Origami is an art form capable of immense complexity and subtlety of expression, yet so many people are unaware of it. In this talk, Marcus will explore the impact of Orientalism on the perception of origami, a critical subject that few (even within the origami community itself) acknowledge.
NB: This talk will be delivered remotely.

Demo

During the lunch and break, you'll be able to try out Thrifty Ink, a DIY, low-cost printmaking project by Henry Cooke using a moveable type system built from laser-cut wooden blocks. You'll be able to get your fingers inky while typesetting and printing your own postcards.

Who is organising this?
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino used to be the producer for the first two editions of the Mozilla Festival, organises the London Internet of Things Meetup, helped curate the Design Council's Design for Planet Festival 2022 & 2023 and is the instigator of the Low Carbon Design Institute.

Become a sponsor
Get in touch with Alex if you'd like to support Papercamp 4.