Wo ist Heimat?
The project Wo is Heimat? (full title in English “Where is Home? Stories of Ukrainian Children and Teenagers”) explores the personal experiences of young refugees who fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion in 2022 – their memories of the first days of the war and their forced escape in search of a new shelter, a new home. The stories of these children are brought to life through powerful illustrations by Ukrainian artist Maria Vyshedska, herself a refugee.
The project was realized both as an exhibition (in Germany and Poland) and as a book. It was produced in three languages: Ukrainian, English, and German.
The choice of typeface for this project was clear from the very beginning. Originally designed as part of the brand identity for the city of Mariupol shortly before the full-scale Russian invasion, the Mariupol typeface has since become a symbol of Ukrainian cultural resistance – a political artifact. It is an example of how design can transcend the boundaries of form and become content.
Idea and project management by Christine Frick. Ulyana Shevchenko served as project coordinator and translator.
