In this Design Lab, the group worked with the managers of Pioneer Square apartments and the refugee residents living in the complex. The group concluded that many refugees feel disconnected from much of the community around them. The team came up with the question: How might we connect directly with the refugees living near us knowing that new refugees often feel disconnected from the community? The team began to brainstorm how they wanted to connect considering a possible language barrier.
The team decided to use art to break down potential language barriers because art does not need verbal or written communication. This has translated to “Art With Refugees, For Refugees.” In this project-based solution, the group hosted an art event where each person created an art piece representing themselves or their culture. In the end, all of the pieces were combined in a collage. This collage represented the coming together of several different cultures, giving the refugees at Pioneer Square a connection with a part of their community.
