National Memorial Arboretum

Winter 2020, I participated in the Ceramic Design Integrated Study Abroad course at the University of the Arts London — Central Saint Martins. For the Stage 2 Client Consultancy project, my class was commissioned by the National Memorial Arboretum to create a collaborative installation and exhibition that commemorates the 75th anniversary of “Victory in Europe” Day.

Commissioned Outdoor Installation for National Memorial Arboretum | Tea For II | 2020

Commissioned Collaborative Exhibition for National Memorial Arboretum | United For Victory | 2020

The goal of my smaller group was to share the everyday experiences and sacrifices of ordinary people during WWII. We held a community engagement workshop at the Arboretum to interview individuals with first and secondhand stories of civilian life during WWII, demonstrating their extraordinary strength and resilience.

We designed decals to be placed on the Arboretum’s restaurant tea mugs that show images of these individuals along with their handwritten testimony.

Design Process

This project was reliant on various types of visual (motif, color) and historical research collected from museum visits (The Imperial War Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum) and in-person interviews.

A small white glazed teacup with a paper label depicting Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin, and their respective national flags behind them, with a banner proclaiming 'United for Victory'.

This earthenware cup, with its patriotic and celebratory paper label, was given to David McBrien at a street party held to celebrate the end of the Second World War (VE Day, 8 May 1945).