About the projects and Exhibition

We have invited a group of Cypriot design researchers across the United Kingdom to explore the theme “Diversity and Inclusivity by Design: Empowering Individuals” and through extensive research to produce a piece of work with which they will participate in a group exhibition, which will be part of the prestigious London Design Festival 2019.

The Practice Design Researchers have been collectively selected by the exhibition curators:

Dr Anastasios Maragiannis, Deputy Head of the School of Design at the University of Greenwich, Dr Marios Psaras, Cultural Counsellor at the Cyprus High Commission in London, and researcher-designer Mala Siamptani (UAL), and include: Maya Angeli #SetDesign , Alina Dheere Babaletsos #VisualArts, Alexandros Kosmidis #CommunicationDesign , Maria Papaleontiou #Architecture , Dr Stacey Pitsillides #Design Research , Magdalene Theodorou #Jewellery Design, and Mala Siamptani #ParticipatoryWearables

To design inclusively is to engage people deeply throughout the design process, sharing our practices and amalgamating people’s unique knowledge as design interventions. Through practice research d+iD aims to amplify, diversify, and mobilise this under-investigated aspect of practice and discourse; where design acts inclusively regardless of disability, gender, ethnicity, vulnerability, language or age.

The exhibition reflects on developments in diversity and inclusivity by design in the current creative Cypriot landscape. There has been an interest in exploring themes involving the diverse design group from generic or specific geographical locations, and so the initial ideas for a curatorial concept will focus around this. d+iD previous research exhibition outputs together to this point have focused primarily on global creative industries and an amalgamation of national and international projects; now it is time to celebrate a specific design group to investigate the impact of their work in their region (Republic of Cyprus). Using the visual language of magazines, advertising, product design, mass media and film in either low-tech or highly stylised ways, these artists and designers point the spotlight on social issues, satirise the political world or share intimate thoughts and feelings with their audience. Issues such as politics, gender, conflict, and consumerism are perfectly suited to the formats of photography, film, and sound and this method of direct, accessible and socially engaged work has continued to influence these designers in Cyprus and beyond.

The selected design practice researchers will diagnose and explore in depth key challenges and highlight opportunities where design can add measurable social, commercial and non-commercial value, through research and creativity.

Booking Information

Please contact the Design team at Design_School @gre.ac.uk if you require further information.

We look forward to seeing you!

Empowering Individuals: diversity+inclusivity by Design | Private View