Library Illuminates: A Path to Sustainability

Creative Spaces was commissioned by Curtin University Library to design an interactive exhibition celebrating ten years of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The exhibition aimed to spark discussion and encourage action around sustainability, while remaining accessible and engaging for a broad university and public audience.

The key challenge was presenting complex global issues such as climate action, equity, health and education in a way that felt practical and hopeful rather than overwhelming. Creative Spaces responded with an exhibition design that combined digital media, interactive elements and curated artefacts drawn from the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library and John Curtin Gallery.

Sustainability was central to both the message and the making of the exhibition. Materials were sourced and repurposed wherever possible, including reused water containers, donated cork from REmida, recycled textiles from Upparel and experimental low-waste substrates. Each design decision considered environmental impact alongside visitor experience.

The resulting exhibition was vibrant, informative and solutions-focused. It encouraged visitors to engage with sustainability in tangible ways, while demonstrating how exhibition design itself can model responsible, future-focused practice.

Photography by Aaron Brown