The Seattle Design Festival is a platform for bold design conversations. We believe that design is for everyone and that inclusive co-design practices are essential to shaping an equitable Seattle. We are multidisciplinary, socially engaged and civic minded.
Threads is an immersive physical installation that invites visitors to co-create a shared story through personal reflection and collective expression. Inspired by organic movement and the interconnectedness of human experience, the installation takes the form of a winding, transparent corridor—a fluid, living passage that captures the voices of all who pass through. Integral to the experience are carefully placed prompts embedded throughout the path. These prompts act as invitations, encouraging participants to contribute their thoughts, stories, or questions. Visitors respond directly onto the transparent surfaces, transforming the walls into a growing, layered tapestry of public input. Each response is a thread woven into the larger narrative, an individual expression that resonates within a communal fabric. Inside the path, the experience is contemplative and immersive. The transparency of the structure allows for a dual perspective—visitors can see both inward and outward, experiencing the tapestry from within while being aware of how it appears from outside. This liminal quality invites introspection and empathy, as personal reflections are situated within a broader social context.
Outside the path, the installation becomes a living mosaic—an evolving archive of human thought and feeling. As the inputs accumulate and interact, the path takes on new forms and meanings, reflecting the complexity, diversity, and beauty of collective voice. The layout of The Threads is non-linear and organic, encouraging open-ended exploration. With no single entry or exit point, each visitor charts their own journey, guided by the prompts and inspired by the contributions of others. Ultimately, The Threads is more than an artwork—it is a process and a platform. It honors the act of sharing, the courage of expression, and the quiet power of listening. As people move through it, they become both authors and audience, shaping and being shaped by the living story around them.
Cushing Terrell
Lily Summers, Isaura Perez, Alondra Pullido, Brannon Jordan, Blake Cronin, KuoChao Tseng, Angela Hang, Eric Murphy