Brainstorming
LeCAKE Ceremony is the result of a brainstorming session that took place in Athens (Greece) at the Urban Dig office. The work gathered representatives of the 8 partners of LeCake in June 2024.
The objective of the brainstorming was to design the shape of a social-artistic moment that could connect the audience within the frame of any Festival event addressing sustainability as a main topic. The contributors had in mind the perspective of a specific festival prepared by Consol Theater Gelsenkirchen, during the forthcoming gathering of LeCAKE in Germany (September 2024).
From this first framework, a smaller group connecting members of Consol Teater and Transplanisphère developed the concept into a concrete proposal for Gelsenkirchen.
Their mission was to define a protocol respecting those constraints:
- A 15-minute activity adapted for youngsters or adults
- For a group of approximately 10 people (with a version for kids, a version for adults)
- Involving real pieces of cake offered to the participants for a friendly experience
- Involving knowledge of sustainability stakes
- Including creative moments and discussions to transmit and exchange knowledge at an emotional level
- Concluding with a creative production from the participants, so they leave the experience with a concrete output
Interview
With Bruno Freyssinet, co-designer of LeCake Ceremony
What is LeCAKE Ceremony about?
The idea for LeCAKE Ceremony was to create a meaningful yet enjoyable social moment that sparks discussions with people. We drew inspiration from several educational and interactive tools, including serious games like The Climate Fresco. These games are well-known for addressing climate issues with various audiences—students, adults, and children.
We thought about developing a shorter and more specific game tailored to LeCAKE. Collaborating with the Consol Theater team and our own team at La Transplanisphère, a group of five people brainstormed how to turn the concept of LeCAKE into an engaging activity.
Eventually, we decided to center the game around the cake itself. Not only does the cake evoke smiles, but it also inspires desire and attraction. From this idea, we envisioned a card game built around cakes, designed to encourage discussion and creative expression. The game can adapt to its audience—whether it’s kids, adults, or students—incorporating elements like drawing, theatrical performance, or dialogue.
Together, we crafted a small ceremony with different stages, infused with humour to make the experience more enjoyable. At the same time, the activity aims to explore serious and important topics.
Tell us about LeCAKE Ceremony at Gelsenkirchen Wissenschaftspark?
Today, at Gelsenkirchen Wissenschaftspark —a unique and large venue—we hosted the first festival of LeCAKE. We tested the ceremony in two sessions: one with young children in the morning and another with adults in the afternoon. The experiences were entirely different, but both went well.
This morning, we hosted activities for numerous kids, splitting them into three rooms with three different “masters of ceremony” or “shamans.” I was delighted to be one of them, facilitating this test session. The feedback was encouraging, and I’m optimistic that this game will prove valuable for future sessions.
Whether with children or adults, LeCAKE provides a platform to discuss climate change and related topics in an engaging, meaningful way. I hope it becomes a tool for anyone looking to create such moments.
What did you learn from this first experience?
Reflecting on today, it exceeded expectations in many ways. While it worked well as a short activity due to time constraints and the volume of proposals, I realised that the ceremony has the potential to evolve into a longer workshop-style experience, lasting an hour or more.
The next step is to refine the program’s content further, share it widely, and collaborate with others who wish to use it. The possibilities are exciting, and I’m eager to see where it leads.