The Zig Zag
Designed in 2018 by Barry Sheehan (Head of Design, School of Art and Design, TU Dublin) in collaboration with A Playful City and supported by HubSpot, The Zig Zag is a bold sculptural seating installation located at Spencer Dock in the Dublin Docklands. Its distinctive form, detailed with vibrant patterned decals and centred around a living tree, provides a welcoming space to sit, climb, play, or simply reflect—inviting people of all ages to engage with the public realm in a new way.
What makes the Zig Zag particularly special is how it came to be. The installation was shaped by a dynamic co-creation process, rooted in deep engagement with the local community. Through early-stage workshops, local young people, families, and residents shared ideas inspired by their memories, needs, and hopes for shared public space. These insights were carried forward into an evening hackathon—an intensive design session—that informed the creative brief provided to Sheehan.
The resulting piece—a playful, climbable, and visually striking intervention—offered not only an imaginative public artwork but a tangible example of what happens when design is driven by community voice. The Zig Zag remains a model of how authentic co-creation can transform both place and process.
