Many of our interview participants told us how encountering artifacts had helped them, or their parents begin to share their migration experiences. We developed a digital artifact wall inspired by these stories for our first functional prototype. The artifact wall consisted of images, videos, and writings provided by our existing contacts. Though this initial test's content and scope were limited, participants proved to be enthusiastic collaborators in the process. A number of them shared that they were excited to continue communicating with others once they submitted their artifact and began reaching out to friends and family members to talk about their experiences.

The artifact wall served as a platform for inspiration and preservation, revealing an unexpected synergy with another of our prototype concepts: the group story exchange workshops that we were hosting in parallel. Story exchange participants reported that viewing the wall before the event demonstrated that everyone's artifact was different, reassuring them that it would be a space to have a conversation without being judged for what they brought to the table.

We hosted a series of digital workshops designed to explore the concept of an artifact-centered story exchange while exploring various outreach methods, including social media platforms, student newsletters, and extended personal networks. Throughout these workshops, we found that people were willing to engage with strangers when introduced to the process by a trusted connection. Participants could share candidly and forge new relationships with some guests by anchoring their stories around a personal artifact. Some participants expressed interest in remaining in touch after the event's conclusion. Participating in these workshops helped us develop a deeper understanding of the teller's storytelling experience and the experience of collecting them.

An artifact-centered storytelling approach will amplify Vietnamese Boat People's voices and lived experiences while preserving a representation of their personal and collective narrative.

By pairing show-and-tell events with an engaging digital artifact wall, people can engage with the artifact-centered approach in the most comfortable way. Both elements span the spectrum of people who know how to share their stories and people who are just getting started, and the artifact-centered approach can grow and change with contributors. The artifact wall and show-and-tell will have a symbiotic relationship; they are two stand-alone concepts that reinforce each other by addressing distinct needs. The artifact wall can inspire the show-and-tell events as an exhibit. After attending events, participants can contribute and become a part of the larger artifact wall.

Digital Artifact Wall

The Digital Artifact Wall does not require attending an event. For those who may not yet be as comfortable with the sharing process, the artifact wall provides an avenue for people to submit outside the workshop. For those who do not wish to participate in a group setting, the artifact wall can serve as a great launching point for contributing to the project, as people can take as much time as they need to consider their contribution, and the submission can take many forms. As the collection grows, VBP can work to curate exhibits focused on specific timelines, artifacts, or journeys.

Artifact Show and Tell Events

Whether online or in-person, the show and tell events can provide the venue and framework to contribute for those ready to engage. When the hosts begin by explaining the event's purpose and presenting their artifacts, they establish trust and encourage reciprocal vulnerability. Event hosts will guide storytellers through the process of sharing their stories using the artifacts as an entry point for each person. Events and artifacts will be documented and incorporated into the VBP collection. Additionally, early show-and-tell events can be an excellent way to generate content for the Digital Artifact Wall launch.

Outreach and Scaling

VBP should partner with community groups, student organizations, and churches to host artifact-centered story-sharing events. By utilizing partnerships and leveraging existing personal and professional networks, VBP can borrow existing trust while building its reputation as a safe space for sharing. People will attend if they expect to see friends or other trusted members of their organization. This initial invite can be much harder for strangers, but you can get more people in the room by utilizing existing networks. Outreach communication must include the intent to document and archive the event because transparency within outreach encourages reciprocity, establishes trust, and inspires engagement. The events are powerful opportunities to encourage participants to host their events with other community members. Tools and guides will be provided to participants, empowering them to host additional events within their communities. By inspiring others to host and document continuing events, the artifact approach can be scalable and allow even more people to share their stories.