Refugees’ Pavilion named in top 10 exhibits by Dezeen

The ‘Refugees Pavilion’ has been been selected as one of Dezeen magazine’s favourite installations of London Design Biennale 2018.

An article published by Dezeen magazine in September 2018 highlighted Refugees’ Pavilion as one of #LDB2018’s best installations.

The project, managed by Nairobi Design Week and curated by Heidi McKennon, Executive Director Curators Without Borders, featured objects designed by refugees as well as the #LabelledHuman launch, a campaign delivered by Vidan Lawnes.

Dezeen is a digital media company; with 2.5 million visitors each month, it is the world’s most influential architecture and design website. Featuring in the Dezeen article displayed the calibre of design included in the installation and it’s impact in discussions around contemporary issues. With ‘Emotional States’ selected as #LDB18’s theme, the conditions faced by refugees displayed in the installation clearly resonated with audiences.

London Design Bienalle (LDB) features installations by curators and designers from over 40 countries every other year; 2018 marks LDB’s second edition, and it’s first time at Somerset House, London. A different theme each year seeks to highlight common ground and similarities between the design participants across the globe.

The extraordinary predicament faced by refugees from Syria and other nations is a discussion the whole world needs to have; Nairobi Design Week opted to the lead this conversation in the design world by seizing on the experiences of their designers and contacts to deliver a stirring, interactive installation to launch the conversation.

Advertising agency Vidan Lawnes proactively seeks clients they can partner with to change the world for good, through both businesses and socially focussed organisations.

Creative Director of the marketing agency, David Stretton-Downes, said:

“It is fantastic to see this evocative exhibit showcased and receive the recognition it deserves in the Refugees Pavilion. Working with Nairobi Design Weeks shows so powerfully how the design industry across Africa is thriving – so it’s fantastic to see it getting the voice it deserves. We are passionate to be working on one of the biggest issues of our time.

“It can be easy to read the news about the plight of refugees and only feel surface level empathy; working on the Refugees Pavilion broke down the walls for all of us that haven’t seen or experienced displacement personally. I was personally moved to take more action by the work of the designers, and I doubt I’ll be alone.”

Check out the Refugees Pavilion on London Design Biennale’s website.