Design for Dignity

The development of a modular and adaptable solution to promote privacy aims to improve the living conditions and thus the well-being of refugees housed in Swiss federal asylum centres and collective accommodation. «Design for Dignity» is more than a product, it is a statement for greater humanity: dignity is a right for all people. Design can contribute to this. 

There is a lack of privacy in Swiss Federal Asylum Centers. Many centres are overcrowded, which leads to cramped conditions and little or no privacy. Many people living in asylum centers experience constant stress, find it difficult to relax and sleep poorly. The trauma of displacement is compounded by the stress of living in cramped conditions with little personal space. 

«Design for Dignity» was developed by Violetta Dyka as part of her MA Design Entrepreneurship degree at Bern University of the Arts. The aim is to improve both the well-being of refugees and the working conditions of staff in asylum centres. To this end, Violetta Dyka developed a modular and adaptable system that provides greater privacy. Even a minimum level of privacy reduces stress, improves mental health and can improve interpersonal relationships in temporary communities. These aspects also have a positive effect on the working environment of employees. 

The further development of «Design for Dignity» is supported by the Gebert Rüf Foundation's «PROOF» programme and the Bern University of the Arts. The focus is on the following topics: 

• Material research to identify suitable, sustainable materials
• Iterative prototype development and testing
• Conducting co-design workshops with various stakeholders
• Development of a scalable business model
• Funding application to First Ventures VALIDATE of the Gebert Rüf Foundation 

The SCDH is supporting Violetta Dyka and her team during the «PROOF» phase with material research, prototype development and the implementation of co-design workshops.

The project arose from the lived experience of flight and is based on the conviction that design can play a decisive role in promoting the well-being of refugees in Federal Asylum Centers. «Design for Dignity» is more than a project – it is a vision for humane accommodation and a model for innovation in humanitarian aid.

• Gebert Rüf Stiftung
• Violetta Dyka