StoryWalk at MacEwan: how visual communications and placemaking welcomes the public to the university campus

Abstract

The StoryWalk at MacEwan University in Edmonton is a permanent, free, all-season, interactive, installation that promotes early literacy and physical activity by displaying pages of a children’s book across 18 stations, both indoors and outdoors. Since launching in June 2024, over 1,200 children and adults have visited MacEwan for StoryWalk. We collaborate with local organizations and daycares, such as Alder Academy, the Newcomer Centre, introducing them to diverse children’s stories and other activities MacEwan's campus offers.

This presentation introduces StoryWalk at MacEwan and highlights our model of introducing young children, adults, and families to our university campus through immersive storytelling. Beyond our technical work, the presentation will also walk through how we design each story, prepare to share it with our community, and highlight the importance of visual communication and placemaking in StoryWalk. Through the designed materials, such as the story panels and postcards, visitors can navigate and situate themselves within the campus by interacting with them. Interactions with the designed materials allow visitors to connect with the university environment around them and encourage openness to future opportunities for themselves and their families.