PORTEFEUILLE

Imagine living in a crowded shelter with no personal space - nowhere to retreat, no moment of privacy. This is the reality for many refugees in Switzerland’s Federal Asylum Centers. Lack of privacy creates stress, anxiety, and a deep sense of discomfort in already difficult situations.
Design for Dignity is a simple yet powerful solution: a modular privacy system designed for shared living environments. Lightweight, adaptable, and easy to install, it creates personal space around beds while maintaining a sense of community. Inspired by how refugees use textiles to create makeshift barriers, this system offers a practical, dignified, and scalable alternative.
With Design for Dignity, we’re not just creating a product - we’re restoring a basic human need. Because privacy is not a privilege, it’s a right.

So far, we have formed our project team, conducted material research, developed design concepts, and created interim prototypes of the Privacy System. In collaboration with the Swiss Center for Design and Health, we produced and tested these prototypes during a dedicated workshop, gathering valuable insights to guide the next development steps. We have also initiated collaborations and negotiations with key stakeholders in the fields of migration and integration, as well as with potential production partners.
In the next project phase, we plan to carry out pilot production and installation of the prototypes in an asylum center and a hostel. This phase will include collecting both quantitative and qualitative data to assess improvements in well-being, reduction of interpersonal conflicts, and potential cost savings. The project aims to establish a socially inclusive and financially sustainable model.