Design For Life: CAFRASS Project
Young unaccompanied asylum seekers from CAFRASS (Children and Families Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service, Manchester City Council) worked with designer Jason Taylor.
During this project young people explored design works in the Manchester Gallery and the Gallery of Craft and Design and experimented with processes and a range of ‘found’ materials. They watched interviews with famous designers and learned how to use creative techniques such as mind mapping, visual research using disposable cameras and using sketchbooks.
The young people made their own objects by cutting into tins. They also built seats out of cardboard and created curious and imaginative fantasy objects. They visited the Manchester Craft and Design Centre where they met local designers and saw a screen-printing demonstration by textile artist Helen Smith. This inspired the young people to develop their own designs, for which they made stencils and printed their own T-Shirts.
Project partners: CAFRASS, Victoria and Albert Museum, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, Museums Sheffield, Shipley Art Gallery: Gateshead, Action for Children, the children's charity.
Funding: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCFS) - Strategic Commissioning Programme
To find out more about this national project visit the V&A Design For Life website
Images © Lilli Brodner
