The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
V&A’ s book aims to draw on creativity
Afree family activity book created by V&A Dundee aims to banish “digital fatigue” by sparking creativity at home.
The museum is distributing 10,000 free copies of quirky publication Design Busters to families across the city as well as other parts of Scotland.
With cheerful and playful illustrations by Dundeebased artist Laura Darling, the book is available to all and can be downloaded for free from the V&A website.
Tracey Smith, young people and families producer at V&A Dundee explained: “Families were finding the second lockdown much harder, feeling under pressure with home learning and also responding with lots of digital fatigue.
“There’s a lot of pressure on families to be able to do lots of different things online, but you might end up needing six laptops for four kids and their parents.
“We really wanted to make something physical – and beautifully designed
– because we’ve got a lot of digital content and the question is how much more do you keep putting out?”
The launch of the book coincided with the Easter school break and the families receiving a free copy have been reached with the help of community groups, foodbanks, schools and hospitals in what has been a huge team effort.
Some of the organisations involved include local charities Dundee Bairns and Togs for Tots, Dundee Food Insecurity Network’s 35 foodbanks and larders as well as NHS children’s hospitals in Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Tracey said she and Laura worked together to ensure Design Busters is easy to use at home: “We’ve brought together activities that are all based around the home, gardens or parks that are completely safe to do through the lockdown period – but none of them make reference to Covid or lockdown.
“Laura and I wanted to make something really colourful, hopeful and full of joy – not talking about the current situation.”
Laura has worked with V&A Dundee before, but never on a project of this scale, but says she was “delighted” to be asked.
“The activities are so accessible and enjoyable – anyone could do them,” Laura explained.
One of Laura’s favourite pages is the Museum of Me activity, which encourages people to look around their houses for objects to draw that tell their family story.
“I really love this one because a lot of my practice is looking at everyday things and finding out the stories behind them,” she adds.
Laura has also created a Design Busters video that introduces the book and the Museum of Me challenge.
V&A Dundee has announced it will reopen on May 1 with new exhibition Night Fever.
Tracey said: “We’re really looking forward to reconnecting with families, young people and all our audiences.”