Whilst at college, a graphic design project turned into an opportunity for me to produce a commercial design for leading international ceramics manufacturer, Wedgwood, and to have my work displayed in the V&A Museum.
For the initial project, I was one of twelve students selected to take part in an initiative organised by the V&A Wedgwood Museum in Staffordshire. The project re-examined an iconic anti-slavery medallion created by Josiah Wedgwood in 1787. At the end of this project our work was to be displayed in a 2-month exhibition, which conveniently needed a backdrop to sit against. This I volunteered to design:
I wanted the backdrop design to evoke feelings of unity, strength andhope,whilst celebrating the early role of the pottery industry in the fight against slavery. To carry the message, I decided to incorporate the following elements:
The Raised Fist: As a universal symbol of strength, unity and resistance
The Bottle Kiln: The bottle kiln is an important part of Stoke- on-Trent’s industrial heritage
The Olive Branch: As a symbol of hope and peace
The Message Josiah Wedgwood’s original medallion bears the question: “Am I not a man and a brother?” During the workshops, we turned this into a powerful statement: “I am a man and a brother”.
The Exhibition
Merchandise
The V&A team also turned my design into a print, postcard and badge to sell in the museum shop. This involved me entering my first commercial contract which was incredibly exciting. Seeing my work as a product for consumers to enjoy was a really surreal moment. I donated the money I was paid for my design to anti-racism charities, thereby supporting its message.
Medallion and Permanent Exhibition
When the exhibition ended, the project (incorporating my design) was curated into a permanent exhibit in the V&A Wedgwood Museum.
In addition to this, Wedgwood created four ceramic medallions bearing my design. One of these now sits alongside Josiah Wedgwood’s original 1787 medallion in the V&A Museum in South Kensington, one is displayed at the V&A Wedgwood Museum in Staffordshire, one will be on show at the new V&A in East London from 2025, whilst the final medallion was presented to me.
