The Sound Hive
Overview
The Sound Hive is an interactive sound and light installation inspired by nature, which was designed by Ricebox Studio in collaboration with primary school-aged children from Newham. The artwork tells the adventures of one very special bee, and uses a ‘traffic light system’ to encourage users to think about recycling and sustainability. The artwork aims to capture Newham’s soundscape from the perspective of our youngest residents.
The Sound Hive was developed as Culture Within Newham’s Winter Commission, in collaboration with our Children’s Board and students from Gallions Primary School, Rosetta Primary School, and New City Primary School.
Ricebox Studio ran workshops with the young people which encouraged creativity and meaningful dialogue, with participants using everyday objects to discuss their environmental impact. From these sessions, students collaborated with each other to create sounds and visuals for the synth table! Ricebox Studio also partnered with freelance senior motion designer, Aliya Akram, to support the development of the project and to bring the visuals on the table to life.
The interactive synth table is designed to encourage young people to collaborate, make music together, and reflect on how everyday objects influence the environment.
Upcoming Events
The Sound Hive will be hosted at a number of locations in Newham in Spring 2025. This will be an opportunity for people to interact and play with the synth table, while learning how children have helped to commission and co-create the artwork. Keep an eye on the Events section of our website for updates.
Culture Within Newham Children’s Board
Ricebox Studio worked closely with a Children's Board consisting of 20 students, who played a key role in shaping the project. Culture Within Newham set up the Children’s Board to give young voices input into Newham’s cultural and creative offering. They selected the winning proposal, participated in creative workshops, and voted on the final visual style for the table – our latest public art commission.
About the team
Founded by four Asian women, Ricebox Studio is an award-winning design practice that uses visual communication and creative technology for positive change. Our mission is to create alternative forms of education, raise awareness of social issues, and encourage creative, impactful conversations.
Safiya Ahmed
A designer, lecturer in BA Graphic Design at University of Westminster and University of the Arts London (UAL), and co-founder of Ricebox Studio. Safiya has collaborated with organisations such as Samsung, Plan International, Tate, and Somerset House, to name a few. She is also a supporting director for Secrets Worth Sharing CIC, a platform providing approachable advice on talking about childhood sexual abuse, with serious joy. Outside of work, you can find her playing with her ginger cat and roller-skating when the sun’s out!
Maria Than
A creative technologist, educator and designer. Using augmented reality (AR), illustration, moving image and creative AI, she explores fragmented identity, buddhism, mental health and escapism. She exhibited in London, Paris, New York, Toronto and South Korea. In 2021, she became a Fellow at the Royal Society of Arts, an award for her period activism with Ricebox Studio and AR work. She lectures in graphic design, ethics of AI, emerging technologies and social activism at Central Saint Martins and Camberwell College of Arts and is a Digital Designer at Child Rights International Network. She was recently resident artist at arebyte Gallery’s Hotel Generation in London, UK where she launched her first solo art exhibition in 2024 exploring her Vietnamese Buddhist heritage called 'Homage to Quan Âm'.
Bristy Amzi
A designer and maker. She works across branding, publications, bookmaking, 2D animation, and accessible design. As the Senior Graphic Designer at the Maternal Aid Association (MAA) and a freelance designer at UAL. When she’s not designing, you’ll find Bristy trying out new recipes, getting lost in a good book, or music that fuels her creativity.
Anna Tsuda
An experience designer at Capgemini Engineering, passionate about co-designing people-friendly products and services through being curious and empathetic. She is an ambitious learner, always searching for ways to develop her research to visual design skills to become a true hybrid experience designer! Outside of design, you can find her Hawaiian & Tahitian dancing and exploring good food around Tokyo.
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