Tools for Transition: Design Museum London Exhibition Celebrating the Public Map Platform
12 September 2025 – August 2026
The Design Museum, London
The exhibition presents the transformative collaboration between traditional Welsh bardic culture and contemporary environmental advocacy, demonstrating how communities across the Isle of Anglesey / Ynys Môn are using creative methods to influence planning decisions and drive the green transition.
At the heart of the PMP exhibition lies the extraordinary partnership between Welsh bards and local children and young people during the summer 2024 Lle Llais (Voice Place) events. Through immersive displays, visitors will discover how bardic traditions have been reimagined through fresh young perspectives, creating unique cultural mapping that connects generations while celebrating belonging and well-being through contemporary voices.
‘This exhibition captures something truly special,’ says Alec Shepley. ‘We’re witnessing how ancient storytelling traditions can inform cutting-edge environmental planning, giving communities — especially young people — a powerful voice in shaping their future.’
The Public Map Platform represents a breakthrough in community engagement, offering an open-source mapping platform accessible to all. The innovative tool captures environmental, cultural and community values spatially, enhancing decision-making processes and supporting the implementation of Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act.
The project has successfully engaged children, young people, communities and organisations across public, private and third sectors, providing them with unprecedented influence in the planning and design of their local areas.
A Vision for National Impact
The PMP team’s ambitions extend far beyond Wales.
‘Whilst Public Map is deeply rooted in Wales, we hope our approach will travel to other contexts and places across the UK — to ultimately create a suite of joined-up community-based maps,’ the team explains.
This exhibition serves as a blueprint for how other communities might adopt similar approaches to environmental and cultural planning. It invites visitors into the wider story of community connection to place, showing how cultural heritage and environmental stewardship can work hand in hand.
About the Green Transitions Ecosystems Project
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the Green Transitions Ecosystems project represents a significant investment in understanding how communities can lead environmental change. The project recognises that successful green transitions require not just technological innovation, but deep community engagement and cultural sensitivity.