Design

Designs for Change

You may remember the name George Odenyo from his piece on the 2012 World Refugee Day and FilmAid Film Festival. But did you know he was a talented graphic designer too?

George's unique poster, focusing on breastfeeding as part of a maternal health campaign, was selected for the África Gráfica exhibit at the Tenerife Design Festival. The Tenerife Design Festival, held in Spain since 2009, presents designs in an innovative way based on three key concepts; local identity, landscape contrast and tourism. These concepts are the starting point for establishing synergies between local factors and international proposals, consolidating design as tool of change and economic stimulus. 

The focus this year was on Africa as an aesthetic reference, as an inexhaustible source of ideas and a potent hotbed of new proposals in the field of design. As proof, the festival showcased innovative projects that had a philosophy of, "change the world through creativity."

George was mentored in the design process by Isaiah King, one of FilmAid's recent Visiting Teaching Artists who met George when they were both working with FilmAid in Kakuma refugee camp in August. George has been an intern with FilmAid in Kakuma for the last few months but has now returned to Nairobi to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in communications and public relations at Moi University.

Although organisers had not intended to exhibit student work, after being introduced to George's incredible piece by Isaiah, they decided to make an exception. George shares the wall with Isaiah King's thought provoking designs and with many world renowned designers including Chaz Maviyane-Davies from Zimbabwe.