This video recreates the process behind the Living Glossary workshop, which begins by bringing diverse groups together around a single starting point: large sheets of paper with just one chosen word or phrase written on them.
The conversations begin as each group discusses how they define the term they have initially been assigned. To capture the richness of the conversation, we recommend having a facilitator to transcribe what is being said, and scrap paper for participants to jot down ideas.
Once a group reaches a shared understanding, their definition is written on their large sheet. Then, a carousel movement begins, as groups rotate to the next word or phrase and engage with the definition left by the previous group, until every group has had the chance to interact with every word or phrase chosen, and leave their own definitions behind.
Once a group reaches a shared understanding, their definition is written on their large sheet.
Then, a carousel movement begins, as groups rotate to the next word or phrase and engage with the definition left by the previous group, until every group has had the chance to interact with every word or phrase chosen, and leave their own definitions behind.
Using different pen colours for each group and encouraging annotations – confirmations, challenges, refinements, and reflections – creates layered dialogue. This iterative process builds a dynamic exchange of perspectives across the room. Post it notes can also be used to capture additional thoughts or to record the different backgrounds of the participants in each group. By the end of the session, each sheet becomes a vibrant record of collective thinking – displaying definitions that literally ‘speak’ to one another.
One year after our Living Glossary co-creation workshop, the team joined colleagues at the Coast‑R Network Year 2 Annual Forum, held at the University of Glasgow in September 2025. Our resulting blog, titled Words for Work: The Coast‑R Living Glossary captured ongoing reflections on the Living Glossary process, and also served as an initial launch point for the Living Glossary itself.
