Strike Stories
Visual identity and exhibition design for a guerrilla show exploring the history of protest and collective action in the UK.
Client:
Royal College of Art
Category:
Exhibition & Spatial, Concept & Research
My Role:
Visual Identity, AR Filter, Copywriting, Spatial Design, Illustration
Strike Stories began with a moment. Strikes were happening across London, and the RCA's international student community was largely unsure how to engage, while some staff were actively participating. The exhibition set out to provide context, celebrate collective action, and create a space for dialogue and reflection. Inspired by the Atelier Populaire of May '68, the approach was deliberately DIY and people-powered from start to finish.
Through a connection with the Bishopsgate Institute, I gained access to their archives and spent time handling original protest prints, posters, and photography from the miners strikes, material that was actually used at the time. From there I wrote all of the exhibition copy, designed every poster and piece of marketing, built the AR Instagram filter, and liaised with the building to organise the space itself.
The Story Behind This Project
The exhibition took over a multifloor staircase at the RCA's White City campus, with the environment designed to feel immersive and participatory at every level. Interactive elements included a VR installation imagining a strike in Parliament Square, a card game mapping strike ripple effects, and a poster series tracing UK protest history. The show ran for a week and drew a strong turnout, generating genuine buzz within the RCA community and beyond on social media.
Many thanks to the Bishopsgate Institute and the Royal College of Art for their support for this project.
As a guerrilla exhibition in a staircase, the audience it found felt entirely right: curious, engaged, and willing to climb a few floors to get there. Some of the most important conversations happen in unexpected spaces.
