AKQA: Studio Olafur Eliasson's Earth Speakr

Earth Speakr is an interactive, augmented reality artwork, developed by contemporary artist Olafur Eliasson in collaboration with AKQA. It amplifies children’s views on the future wellbeing of the planet, by inviting adults and today’s decision-makers, change-agents and global leaders to listen to what young people have to say.

Earth Speakr uses augmented reality to blend children’s faces with objects or materials in their surroundings – or even the planet itself – as they literally speak up on behalf of the environment. Adults are invited to participate by listening to the messages and creating augmented reality “Loud Speakrs” to amplify the powerful messages kids have to share.

Earth Speakr was funded by the German Federal Foreign Office on the occasion of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2020 and realised in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut. It is available in the 24 official languages of the European Union and can be accessed worldwide. With 450,000 app downloads, a total of 2.5 million messages from children have now been listened to.