"The struggle continues and Ukraine nonetheless wants help"
To mark one 12 months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian design author Tetiana Makowska has chosen eight merchandise designed for the struggle effort.
This piece goals to attract consideration to the truth that the struggle isn’t over. The struggle continues and Ukraine nonetheless wants help.
On February 24, 2022, Russia attacked Ukraine. It was precisely a 12 months in the past. For a 12 months, we have now lived beneath the sounds of air raids alerts and fixed expectation of assaults from Russia.
For each Ukrainian, no matter age and career, the world is split into the earlier than and after, and design has acquired new meanings and capabilities. Now we have all realised that design is a technique of fixing particular issues; it’s primarily about perform, adopted by a transparent type.
Earlier than the Russian invasion, the event of Ukrainian design saved tempo with the world and harmoniously match native messages into world agendas.
However after February 24, the essence and rules of inventive design modified, discovering their place in struggle. Ukrainian designers have centered on creating purposeful objects vital for our new wartime actuality.
These objects assist clear up issues in shelters, dugouts, hospitals, and bombed homes. These objects assist save lives, discover enemies, shield heritage, and produce consolation the place it appears inconceivable.
In fact, many designers proceed to create aesthetically pleasing merchandise for peacetime: furnishings, lighting, and equipment. Because of them, we are able to really feel the inspiration and keep robust.
However right now, I need to spotlight eight military-related merchandise:
RE:Ukraine Monuments challenge by Balbek Bureau
Ukrainian studio Balbek Bureau has developed the RE:Ukraine Monuments (above and prime) as a modular, easy-to-install safety system for the quite a few monuments and sculptures beneath risk from destruction by Russian shelling.
The technological system will be utilized to sculptural monuments of assorted sizes.
Gloves for drone pilots by Hardride
Clothes firm Hardride has designed and manufactured outside gloves for drone operators with membrane cloth, interchangeable clear/opaque panels, fleece, and insulation – solely the very best for the very best.
The struggle has lasted a 12 months. That’s 4 seasons, three of which include chilly climate situations that require not simply sturdy however comfy tools.
Karpaty e-bike by Container Design Studio for Delfast
The Karpaty e-bike designed by Container Design Studio is the main mannequin made by Ukrainian firm Delfast, which was introduced to the Ministry of Defence and the Nationwide Guard of Ukraine.
It’s now actively utilized by troopers on the entrance line, akin to for transporting the NLAW (Subsequent Era Mild Anti-tank Weapon).
Invisibility shields by Yaroslav Cosmonaut
Earlier than the struggle, Yaroslav Cosmonaut labored in concert events and had a small manufacturing enterprise offering provides for all types of installations for occasions. He now creates varied wartime merchandise together with invisibility shields.
The sturdy shields are constituted of a lenticular sheet and clear acrylic base. The thought isn’t unique, however very helpful in serving to save the lives of warriors. Behind this easy invisibility defend, the individual can solely disappear and be invisible, even for thermal imaging cameras.
Pill holder for drone distant management by Yaroslav Cosmonaut
Cosmonaut is considered one of quite a few folks discovering the facility of design to resolve issues on the battlefield. He created a pill holder for drone operators.
“The distant controller of the incessantly used drone Autel Evo 2 professional within the primary configuration permits for hanging solely a cellphone, not a pill,” stated the designer. “I started to provide you with a common folding pill holder, which I drew in Fusion 360 and printed it on my 3D printer. This was the answer.”
Gropius Low Chair Army Version By NOOM in collaboration with Nataliya Bakulina and Antonina Latayko
Designed by Ukrainian design firm NOOM, the Gropius Low Chair Army goals to attract consideration to how the essence and precept of inventive design have modified in Ukraine because the invasion.
“We aimed to convey our emotions by combining our Gropius Low chair basic type developed in peacetime with a camouflage web from wartime. For each Ukrainian, no matter age and career, design has acquired new meanings and capabilities,” stated NOOM.
The studio tailored its Gropius chair, which was designed to mark the centenary of the founding of Bauhaus, by changing its cotton covers with a camouflage web made up of greater than 4,000 knots.
Highcat army drone by HALI TEX and Oleg Vereshchagin
Designer Oleg Vereshchagin collaborated with German firm HALI TEX to adapt the HIGHCAT army drone particularly for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“I’ve by no means been a militarist,” stated Vereshchagin. “The struggle initiated by Russia modified my life cardinally. So I did this challenge in collaboration with a German firm that produces drones for the Ukrainian armed forces. I could not keep away and contributed to this challenge.”
Cardboard-box mattress by Oleg Vereshchagin
Refugees are sometimes compelled to sleep on the ground in poorly tailored rooms. Utilizing accessible cardboard packing containers (specifically made or by chance discovered) to create a mattress can enhance the consolation degree considerably.
After use, the cardboard is recycled as regular. This resolution can utilise idle packaging manufacturing throughout the struggle. Its quite simple building requires no particular instruments or expertise to assemble.
Tetiana Makowska is a Ukrainian journalist who specialises in structure and design-related companies. She labored as an editor on the Ukrainian design magazines Object and Decor earlier than turning into a contract author and pr specialist.
