Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN)

This project, in collaboration with the Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN), aims
to create a more vibrant and supportive environment for refugees in Folkestone.
KRAN, a trusted organization that has been empowering refugees for 16 years, is
the focal point of our design eorts. Guided by the needs and insights of KRAN's
clients, we seek to explore how color, beyond its visual impact, can be a powerful
tool for enhancing well-being and fostering a sense of belonging.

The project began with an exploration of personal migration experiences,
illustrated through drawings where each of my "homes" over the past ve years
as a migrant was represented by a carefully chosen color. Each color embodied a
specic emotion, allowing viewers to decode the emotional journey behind the
drawings. This exercise led to the development of a unique color language that
would guide the project's design process, predicting potential approaches and
situations. The emphasis on color became a fundamental aspect of the project,
symbolizing the deeper meanings embedded in the design.

A subsequent mapping exercise of Folkestone further informed the project. By
analyzing both the urban spaces and arrival infrastructure, a color map of the
town was created, highlighting areas of interest for teenagers and refugees, as
well as social, cultural, and recreational spaces. The map revealed that, from my
perspective, Folkestone lacks the vibrancy needed to support the integration of
these groups. My aim is to infuse this "Black and White" town with color and light,
enhancing the health and well-being of its inhabitants.

One of the key briefs was to create a "gift" for KRAN, a fully realized design
element that could serve as a gateway of color where people entering the KRAN
area could feel a sense of happiness and positivity. This gateway is not just a
physical structure but a symbol of how color can change one's perception of the
world, aligning with the broader goal of transforming the KRAN area into a
vibrant, welcoming space.

The project's larger vision extends to connecting KRAN to Radnor Park, using the
viaduct as a guide. The design envisions the KRAN structure evolving alongside
the viaduct, incorporating connected structures that will bring life to the green,
wooded area along the viaduct. This transformation will operate both during the
day and at night, embodying the project's ultimate aim: to "turn a Black and
White City into Colour."