Design Museum Academy Adult Workshop
Workshop: Make Festive Paper Streamers with Bethan Laura Wood
Join designer Bethan Laura Wood as she guides you in creating swaying festive streamers from laminated paper pieces, inspired by seaweed and kites. Cut, twist, and assemble your own design pieces and discover how the studio collaborates with manufacturers to bring imaginative concepts to life.
What to expect
In this workshop, Bethan invites you to experiment with laminated papercutting, twisting, and assembling pieces to create your own festive streamers and hanging decorations. You can select and combine seaweed-inspired shapes designed by Bethan, or design and hand-cut your own shapes. You will learn how to work with and bend laminated paper, combining textures and colours to create vibrant new designs to hang at home.
Originally developed in 2017 for a takeover of the historic smokehouse during Hull’s City of Culture, Seaweed Streamers is a collaboration between the designer and the renowned paper merchant GF Smith. The designs combine the organic forms of British seaweed with structural details inspired by kite constructions. Crafted from vibrant paper, these seaweed forms gently sway, creating a suspended world of colour and shapes where nature, industry, and architecture meet.
This project connects to the roots of Bethan’s creative journey, from her childhood obsession with transforming paper into imaginative forms, to the large-scale sculptural works she produces today. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to learn more about her practice and how the studio works through projects, collaborating closely with manufacturers to create innovative designs.
The workshop includes a brief guided visit led by Bethan to her display, PLATFORM: Bethan Laura Wood.
Learning outcomes
• Learn more about Bethan Laura Wood’s design practice
• Explore the possibilities of laminated paper for design
• Learn paper bending techniques
• Assemble your streamer combining colours and shapes
Please note
• Capacity is limited, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment
• All equipment, materials and light refreshments will be provided.
• This workshop is suitable for adults 18+
Testimonials
“The course exceeded my expectations, I really enjoyed making, meeting new people and learning about Bethan’s creative process”
“I liked the connection between the professional work of a designer, the link to the exhibition and the working process, but making this very accessible”
Facilitator
Bethan Laura Wood
Bethan leads a multidisciplinary studio that explores materiality, artisan collaboration, and colour. Her site-specific work reflects local cultures, while questioning sustainability and our emotional connections to objects. Bethan has collaborated with brands such as Dior, Cassina, and Rosenthal, and exhibited globally with Nilufar Gallery. Her works are held in the permanent collections of NGV Australia, the V&A London, and SFMOMA. In 2025, her first solo museum show opened at the Design Museum as part of PLATFORM, a new series of annual displays dedicated to showcasing contemporary design practice.
In collaboration with GF Smith
GF Smith works in partnership with brands, creatives, designers and specialists across the globe to source, curate and supply the world’s finest paper as the foundation for those that seek to create. As an independent business committed to community, colour and creativity, it is known for its exceptional range of creative papers, technical expertise, specialist services and warm, friendly approach. .
Book online
Booking information
Adult: £75 Adult Early Bird: £68
Student: £68 Student Early Bird: £61
Members*: £60
Please note that this benefit applies only to the cardholding Member’s ticket and not to those of additional guests.
Early bird tickets are available until 28 November 2025.
Suitable for Adults 18+
Visit this page for further Access information
Check out the Design Museum Academy refunds and cancellations policy here.
Additional information
This workshop is for participants aged 18 and over, and the content has been designed with adult learners in mind
If there’s anything we can do to help you take part, whether it’s around mobility, sensory access, mental health, communication preferences, or anything else, you’re welcome to share this with us at ticket checkout. This is entirely optional, and you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
You're also welcome to bring a companion if you'd benefit from 1:1 support during the workshop. Companion places are free; please email DMAcademy@designmuseum.org with your booking information so we can reserve your spot.
This session is led by up to two facilitators and has a capacity of 15 participants.
If you have any questions or would prefer to chat to someone directly, get in touch with us via DMAcademy@designmuseum.org. We’ll do our best to support you.
Publication
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Background and carousel images: Bethan Laura Wood's Seaweed Streamers Installation in collaboration with GF Smith. Courtesy of the artist.