Spatial Design

Project, The Feminist Library

Design Team, Studio Lucy Sanderson, Hi-Vis! Feminist Design Collective, Power Project, Anna Lincoln and Lilian Nejatpour.

Studio Lucy Sanderson became involved in the Feminist Library’s relocation in 2016 then HI-VIS! joined forces to create the design team in early 2017, when the library was set to relocate to OKRS studios at The Livesey Estate on the Old Kent Road. We soon found the project also offered the opportunity for us to collaborate on the construction with friends at Power Project in their Peckham workshop for woman and non-binary individuals. We see the move as an opportunity for the Library to create a accessible, feminist public space that feels like a truly loving home for the collection of books and ephemera, and staff and visitors; entirely designed and built by women and non-binary individuals. The new premises and hall offered by Southwark Council at the Soujourner Truth Centre presents us a very real and exciting opportunity for us to make this happen together that encapsulates the creative energy of all the women who have contributed to the movement. Anna Lincoln was appointed the graphic designer in 2018 - the branded graphic identity takes inspiration from the folded ribbons used to create the letters on early Feminist Library protest banners. The font is highly functional but softened by the twisted ribbon effect. Lillian Nejatpour and Lucy Sanderson are combining their interdisciplinary practises to produce an documentary film on the process leading up to the relaunch of the Feminist Library - documenting conversations, researching archives and the historical context of the library moving into 2019. The Feminist Library opens Spring 2019.

Studio Lucy Sanderson, Spatial Design
Studio Lucy Sanderson is a multidisciplinary design and research studio with a provision to bring equality to environments. Conceiving creative and research projects from initial concept through to production. Campaigning for the future of change. Our work manifests materiality, moving
image, sculpture, exhibition design, set design, spatial design and photography in response to notions of gender politics, equality and behavioural conditioning constructed through the psyche.

Hi-Vis!, Spatial Design
HI-VIS! was founded in November 2016, Inspired by the feminist design groups set up in 1980s (such as the Women’s Design Service (WDS), and Matrix Feminist Design Cooperative). The group acts as a useful network to bring like-minded women and non-binary designers, (regardless of qualification) together, encouraging support and possible collaboration. It seeks both to challenge the continued patriarchal elitism of the architectural profession whilst providing design and construction services to radical groups and organisations.

Power Project, Makers and Community Engagement
Power Project is a free programme of DIY & making sessions for women & non-binary people. Born as a community project in the Ledbury Estate in Peckham, we aim to strengthen gender equality in the workplace through skills sharing and confidence-building workshops.

Anna Lincoln, Graphic Design

Anna Lincoln is a designer for the Arts, working predominantly with museums and cultural institutions. Her work focuses on the intersections between heritage and contemporary issues. Recent projects include the visual identity and exhibition graphics for National Trust's award winning Prejudice and Pride publication and exhibition Exile; the Japanese Woodblock exhibition at the British Museum and curating and designing Island Women - an exhibition commissioned by Canary Wharf to promote the history of working women on the Isle of Dogs.

Lilian Nejatpour, Artist
Lilian Nejatpour is as a British Iranian artist whose practice questions technological invasiveness and sentimentality. She questions how these two very distinct modes operate alongside each other and what problems arise when they are captured and re-situated in conversation through sculpture, sound, video and performance. Her practice often investigates displacement and duality exploring various cultural tropes that evade reference or historical memory.