Sixteenth Stop
Workshop at the City Library · May 2026
Workshop Leaders: Leila Natsheh and Simona Cavalieri
Photo: Leila Natsheh
At the City Library of Gothenburg, we wanted to confirm that children understand the categories and icons we started designing for Barnens Smarta Karta.
a flying cat— C, 13
Tales and Trolls
The set up consisted of an interaction on a tablet showing six categories from which children can choose from: Places with water, places with animals, places where one can rest, where one can be active, where one can be with friends, and a new category we were testing is places with mystery (represented through an icon of a troll’s silhouette).
This new icon was introduced as a response to children always bringing an element of fantasy and narrative into the workshops, and it is meant to act in a similar way to the “joker” in card games. Leading to mystery, an unpredictable category, that is not as straight forward like the other ones. Potentially this category could also lead to places on Barnens Smarta Karta with narratives, or places that tell stories in some way. The icon being a troll was inspired by a 6-year-old who was talking about how he would want to visit places with trolls. In Swedish culture tolls are iconic figures of folklore, representing the untamed, mysterious, and magical wilderness.
The children at this workshop were very intrigued by the troll icon, and chose it as one of their three categories. After choosing one, two or three category combinations out of the six available, the children were asked to show us in a paper collage what the places that they imagined looked like.
A bench To Rest, Animals and a beach — A, 12
“Why are we doing this?” — C, 13
For the first time during this journey, children asked us why they are doing this workshop.
We were always prepared to give adults information about the project and what we are doing, and how we are conducting research for building Barnens Smarta Karta together with children. We were not as prepared to give this same information in a more age-appropriate way to the children who asked us about the project this time.
We, of course, explained what the project is about, and how we are working together with children from start to finish in order to develop Barnens Smarta Karta, but we wonder if we could have been more prepared to really make it clear for this age group that was so curious about the process and the project.
Recommendations by Children
During our workshop, one librarian came to ask the children to write book recommendations for other children about their favorite books. One child was wondering how to sign this recommendation, and chose to add her name and age instead of keeping it anonymous. Another child was inspired, and also wanted to write a book recommendation.
We see this interaction as confirmation to our idea of children wanting to be heard and showing others what matters to them and what they like. Barnens Smarta Karta is not only a map for children, it is designed with children, it is from children to children.
Would you like to join us next time?
