Before & After
The Brief
We partnered with Newham Council, Populo Living, and the Dovetail Community Centre to provide four engaging workshops. Our goal was to encapsulate the community's culture and ideas into the mural, ensuring everyone had a hand in its creation. It was important for us that every voice was reflected in the mural.
Made from durable ACM material which is a durable and sustainable material, the mural was installed in November 2023 and stretches 32 meters across the ball court in Stratford. A reflection of the community's collective ideas and aspirations. Thanks to the ongoing regeneration in the area, the mural also promises a flexible future - it can be relocated to a different area in Stratford and enjoyed for years to come!
Supported by: Populo Living & Newham Council
Populo Progression Video
The Process
The journey began with a workshop at Carpenters Primary School. Where the young students got the opportunity to put their imaginations to work by creating personalised mood boards that inspired the themes for the mural. These include their thoughts and emotions through creativity.
We then reached out to the vibrant local community of Stratford, hosting three more workshops at The Dovetail Community Centre. These took place on the 1st, 8th, and 15th of August 2023, offering an inclusive platform for residents to express their creative energies. The workshops engaged participants in exploring mood boards, understanding colour theory, creating patterns, and co-designing. These workshops allowed them to tap into their creativity and contribute directly to their community’s visual identity.
"This mural project has changed my life! I didn't go out before and now after coming here I feel confident to take part in things and meet new people. I found my friends and my creativity here! It's led me to other creative things. Thank you Rose and CCC team"
Project Participant, 2023
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The Outcome
The mural in Newham is a vibrant testament to the community's diversity, drawing inspiration from residents' cherished aspects of the area. Cultural motifs from various backgrounds interweave throughout, showcasing the rich blend of traditions present in the community.
Building on the skills learnt from our workshops, participants crafted unique patterns that resonated with their affection for Newham. Central themes of nature, love, and culture anchor this artwork, narrating a collective journey. Additionally, we've incorporated elements of the LGBTQ2IA+ flag to represent Newham's commitment to inclusivity and representation.
About The Design
Learn about the individuals who participated in this project and the thought process behind the design choices for each section of the mural.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Caz used her favourite colours and colour combinations selected
as a group. Caz was
inspired by her family’s Sundan heritage. This design is influenced from Sudanese and Ethiopian traditional art and basket ware. Khartoum Crush has lots of different weaving patterns from Sudan provinces.
Ewura drew stick children in various colours to symbolise inclusivity. Ewura's design also highlights the abundant support, spaces, and opportunities for children in Newham. She drew plants to represent the people in the community who plant, garden and farm in Newham's communal spaces.
Shahina created her
square design inspired by her love of crocheting. In the workshop, she designed it using red, yellow, and green and then decided she wanted it to be red, blue, and white in the mural. Shahina later wanted it to be circular rather than square and we added both colourways and shape designs in the mural.
Tasniah created a unique wave and check design using her favourite colours, including a pink which she chose for the mural. The waves symbolise how people, like waves, are all different.
Jennifer wanted to include the Theatre Royal Stratford East within the mural. Her design was inspired by the theatre curtain, drama masks and the theatre lights.
The shape designs are inspired by
a beautiful artwork of Rithvik. He wanted to see Triangles and different shapes included in the mural design.
Lakshmi incorporated a scale, check and dot print into Rithvik her son's hand design. She wanted to use a gradient of the joyful colours of yellow, and oranges. Putting a heart symbol to represent the love of her son and family.
Sasha created a pattern
using a heart symbol to
represent affection and love for the Carpenters
Estate.
Mica designed her personal logo, central to her final degree project, drawing from positive-negative concepts from Workshop two. She also drew local flowers which can be found in West Ham park throughout the four seasons.
Lerato, drawing from her South African Ndebele heritage, integrated vibrant Ndebele art into her design. A reflection of her love for life and art. Inspired by this and Newham's rich jewellery-making history, she also incorporated freeform patterns and shapes representing Ghanaian culture, celebrating both heritage and the area's diversity.
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Saudat's design features a Comoros stripe from her heritage, employing traditional dress colours of orange, red, and yellow. She incorporated elements inspired by the tent-like structures of Stratford bus station. Saudat included a design inspired by Lund, James Riley and Dennisson point.
From T.K's view point of Carpenters Estate, T.K drew the trees and plants in wooden boxes. In his drawing, which includes abstract elements, he emphasizes colours the workshop group chose, notably dark blue for the sky, a departure from its usual shade.
Sabia designed her own pattern inspired by her heritage, she wanted to include this in different colour ways.
Nabil is talented in calligraphy and Mike wanted to see it in our mural. Carpenter’s is the Estate where the mural is located.
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Ivy designed her own pattern using the chosen colours of the community! We included her design in different colourways.
 The Populo sign is a representation of the Newham bird. Populo means people / the populous and the importance of community. It represents the people and togetherness. With a different colour way. |  The LGBTQIA2S+ flag is a symbol of diversity and inclusion within the LGBTQ+ community.Its rainbow colours represent various sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. The "+" acknowledges the ongoing expansion of identities and serves as a reminder of the importance of acceptance and support for all individuals regardless of their gender or sexuality. |
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 Dove design to symbolise "The Dovetail", which provides classes, events and helpful activities for the community. It connects locals to council. workers, housing services and health services. |  This is a signature style of Tee who always wears blue eye liner and is a pillar of the Carpenter’s community and beyond. Tee runs the community cafe that provides a food bank and training facilities. Her door is always open to anyone in the community represented in this pattern. Tee is a stylish women, you never see her without a face on, great outfit and nails done. |
 This block design is inspired by the windows from the Stratford buildings near the bus station. |  A representation of the Newham crest. |
 A representation of the Newham crest. |  A representation of the Newham crest. |
 Different colour way of African (Congo- Kinshasa) Wood Carving design. |  Different colour way of African (Congo- Kinshasa) Wood Carving design. |
 |  Ewura included a pattern of Kente to represent the market sellers. Many of them sell fabrics and other products that come in various colours and patterns. Newham has many multicultural markets and local businesses, which benefit the borough's economy and serves the borough's multicultural community. |
 This is an Islamic isometric dodecagon and star Polygons pattern. |
"Worked with Co-Creative Connection on a couple of lovely community mural projects. Rose's team is professional, organised and Rose is amazing with people. Residents felt at ease and comfortable during her workshops and the way Rose put together the different pieces from the residents into a beautiful mural was incredible. Look forward to working with Co-Creative Connection again."
Saudat, Project Participant 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of impact did the project have on participants beyond the artwork itself?
Many participants shared that the workshops gave them a renewed sense of confidence, connection, and purpose. For some, it was their first time engaging in a community activity, and it became a stepping stone to new friendships, creative exploration, and even other opportunities.
How did the design process ensure people felt ownership of the mural?
Rather than simply collecting ideas, the process centred on co-creation. Participants directly shaped the colours, symbols, and patterns that were used. Every line drawn and theme discussed had someone’s story behind it.
What inspired the use of ACM as the mural material?
To reflect sustainability values and ensure adaptability as the area evolves, we chose ACM; a durable, weather-resistant material. It allowed the mural to be safely relocated when needed. As this was a meanwhile space, and with plans for the basketball court to be demolished and rebuilt, it was essential that the mural could be moved. It remained in place for 18 months and has recently been relocated to the TMO office, ensuring the community’s creativity continues to be visible and celebrated for years to come.
How did the workshops support people with no prior art experience?
Sessions were designed to welcome everyone, regardless of whether they considered themselves creative or not. Activities such as mood boarding and pattern-making encouraged gentle exploration, allowing participants to engage at their own pace and unlock ideas through colour and conversation. Those with no prior art experience felt supported and empowered, while more experienced participants had space to push their creativity further.
What role did local identity play in the mural’s visual storytelling?
The mural reflects what participants love most about Newham - its green spaces, cultural richness, food, music, and community spirit. These local references were transformed into patterns and symbols that tell a collective story.
What challenges came up during the process, and how were they handled?
One challenge was ensuring all voices were balanced in a single design. We addressed this through careful facilitation and design layering, using repeated motifs and blended themes so that the final mural didn’t feel dominated by any one perspective.
Was language or communication a barrier during the project?
Not at all, in fact, we embraced the multilingual nature of Newham. Visual tools like mood boards, sketching, and colour palettes became a universal language that helped everyone participate, regardless of their English fluency.
How did you make sure quieter participants were heard?
We used small group work, one-to-one check-ins, and visual prompts to create a safe and supportive space. Not everyone expresses themselves the same way, so we ensured there were different ways to contribute beyond speaking up in large groups.
What kind of feedback did you receive after installation?
Residents shared that the mural made the space feel more alive and welcoming. Some said it was the first time they’d seen their community visually represented in public art, and others mentioned it gave them a renewed sense of belonging and pride.
How did the design reflect both individuality and unity?
Each participant’s input was represented through distinct shapes, colours, and symbols. But rather than appearing fragmented, these elements were woven together in a cohesive design, showing how diverse voices can come together as one.
How did the final mural design come together from so many different ideas?
We spent time after each workshop carefully reviewing the recurring themes, motifs, and colour palettes chosen by participants. The final design was a curated collage of these elements, layered and adapted to fit the long format of the ball court wall.
Did the workshops have an effect on mental wellbeing?
Absolutely. Participants often described the sessions as calming, joyful, and uplifting. Several people mentioned that it gave them something to look forward to each week, providing a creative outlet and helping reduce feelings of isolation.
