Roots & Routes
A fun, interactive booklet designed to promote cultural exchange and preserve intangible heritage by turning everyday interactions into opportunities for learning—no boring museums required!
Introduction
Ever wished learning about culture didn’t feel like homework? With Roots & Routes, we turned heritage promotion into a playful adventure! Collaborating with the Angolan Women Voice Association, UK, we created a personalized booklet packed with doodles, stickers, and creative prompts designed to help members connect, share, and celebrate their stories. The goal? To build bridges, not barriers, so everyone feels accepted—regardless of their cultural background. Think of it as a cultural passport that says, “Hey, your traditions are awesome, and so are theirs!” No boring museums, no endless lectures—just pure, sticker-filled fun.
Challenge
Cultural heritage is fascinating, but engaging with it often feels like a chore. Existing methods—like museums, books, and documentaries—are formal, time-consuming, and often fail to connect with a wider audience. They rarely offer an interactive, everyday way for people to learn about and celebrate cultural traditions. The key problems we needed to solve were:
Accessibility: Existing solutions felt exclusive and formal, alienating people who don’t naturally gravitate toward traditional learning formats.
Engagement: Most methods lacked a personal, playful approach to cultural exchange, making them feel impersonal and boring.
Everyday Relevance: Heritage was treated as something you learn about in a specific setting, rather than something you could encounter and enjoy in daily life.
Inclusivity: There was a gap in how cultural traditions were shared, often presenting them as static or one-sided instead of fostering two-way interactions between people from different backgrounds.
Our challenge was to create something accessible, interactive, and engaging that could seamlessly fit into people’s everyday lives—without compromising the depth or authenticity of the cultural exchange.
Process
We started with curiosity, diving into interviews and cultural exploration to uncover how people interact with their heritage. From quirky traditions like using cola nuts as key elements in marriage rituals to the evolving influence of globalization on cultural practices, we gained valuable insights into how traditions are shared and perceived. The key insights that we gained were:
Heritage Is Personal: People are more likely to engage with cultural learning when it feels personal and connected to their identity or daily experiences.
Interaction Over Instruction: Formal methods like lectures or museums don’t resonate with everyone, but informal, interactive activities make learning feel organic and enjoyable.
Traditions Are Evolving: Globalization is reshaping cultural practices, blending old traditions with new influences. This makes it important to document heritage in a way that embraces change while honoring roots.
Inclusivity Matters: Many participants shared how cultural exchange thrives when it’s a two-way street—learning about others while sharing their own stories fosters genuine connection.
Simplicity Is Key: People prefer tools and activities that are easy to use and integrate into their lives, making heritage feel less like an obligation and more like an enjoyable experience.
By synthesizing these insights, we envisioned a solution that was vibrant, engaging, and made cultural exchange a joyful part of everyday life.
Click here, to check out the the snippets and insights we gained from interviewing the community members.
Solution
Enter the Roots & Routes booklet: a creative and personal cultural passport packed with stickers, doodles, and activities. Users can map their traditions, share stories, and discover new ones—all while having a laugh. It’s not about forcing heritage down anyone’s throat; it’s about sparking curiosity and connection in the simplest, most entertaining way possible.
To check out the booklet and the stickers designed for the association; click here
Impact & Conclusion
The booklet transformed cultural learning into a playful adventure, making it accessible and exciting for people of all ages. It became a bridge for communities to connect, share, and celebrate their diversity in a way that felt natural and fun. By turning cultural exchange into a sticker-filled, doodle-crazy journey, we proved that heritage isn’t just something to preserve—it’s something to live, laugh, and love.