Brittany Yau

UPDATE - Participatory Narrative Translation Toolkit

UPDATE is a Participatory Narrative Translation Toolkit that transforms lived experiences of digital exclusion into reflective Live Action Role-Playing (LARP) investigations. Developed through participatory research with members of the public and professionals, the project responds to the often invisible barriers people encounter when accessing digital public services. 

Rather than presenting statistics or policy reports, UPDATE translates qualitative civic experiences into physical evidence, character narratives, and collaborative investigations that invite players to question the assumptions embedded within digital systems. Through embodied, discussion-based gameplay, players explore issues of accessibility, governance, ethics, and responsibility from multiple perspectives, encouraging reflection on how digital public services are designed and experienced. 

Instead of proposing another technological solution, UPDATE offers a reusable framework for translating qualitative research into critical learning experiences. While demonstrated through the context of digital public services, the toolkit can be adapted to a wide range of socio-technical issues, supporting participatory education, design practice, and public engagement through collaborative storytelling and reflective play.