Design Challenge - Sight Unseen: Depicting Climate Change in the Light of Human Rights

Marlon Bellanova, Product & Industry Designer pointed in his artwork that “climate change is not just about CO2 emissions. The consequences of climate change are particularly evident in developing countries in form of lack of food security, a shortage of clean water and diminishing fertile soil. The economic performance of the poorest countries, which are largely dependent on natural resources and agriculture, will be immensely affected, drastically increasing poverty in these regions”.

The aim of his work is “to show these precarious circumstances in form of empty and devastated containers and inspire the viewer to fill the emptiness again. In what form this takes place is up to each individual. However, one thing is clear: we must act now and not wait".

The jury awarded Marlon Bellanova’s artwork with the first prize due to “its simple yet provocative nature”. The jury explains further that the artwork “makes the viewer wonder and leaves some ambiguity in the message with references to scarcity and science. Yet it conveys impressively how little fertile land mankind has left and how precarious the food and water situation is".

Melissa von Büren, a school teacher with a subject responsibility in visual design, shows in her submission “opposites such as fullness and emptiness, abundance - lack, flourishing - spoiling, right - wrong, living and dying. Divided into three columns with the themes of water, earth and food, these opposites are depicted". Furthermore, she explains what can be seen in her artwork: “Climate change carries challenges to humanity. The corals are bleaching, the schools of fish are disappearing and with them the small fishermen. Instead, the boats are full to the brim and groaning under the weight of the fates. The soil dries out and becomes infertile. Cracks mark the earth and cracks mark the families. Stomachs burn with hunger and the forest burns as well. Climate change is happening and human rights are being violated as a result. It's time for a change, it's time for change for good."

The jury awarded her artwork with the second prize and states that “this complex graphic impresses with its very detailed narrative spanning effects and responses to climate change from all around the world. The chosen colors make clear that these are profound and negative changes – and touch the viewer also emotionally".

Lioba Keller, a bookbinder and student in illustration, who likes to deal with environmental topics, addresses in her artwork the topic on measures to combat climate change. She explains that in her artwork “the focus is on the temporal limitation of these measures taken (and taken too late). The reforestation and the dwindling share of rainforests trickles through a narrow space into the momentous consequences for people and the environment. In the process, the routes for indigenous peoples to obtain drinking water and timber are becoming longer and more perilous. The "inconspicuousness" of these peoples is something I also wanted to pick up on in my painting." 

The jury saw in her artwork that “the hourglass very clearly shows how time works against us if we deplete resources as we have been doing so far. It convinces with its calm yet evocative manner“, therefore the jury awarded her work with the third prize.

‘The photo was taken in Mazzarón, Spain. When I saw the abandoned tricycle, the story of the child playing ran before my mind's eye. The joy of being allowed to take it out for the first time, the paint still shiny. It curved through sand and stones, possibly also over grass. The yellow vehicle also radiates something depressing. The saddle is shot with paint, the handlebars broken off. Abandoned, nothing but a piece of junk. No future. The link to the competition was this word, future. When I think of young people, I wish them prospects. They should not grow up in a dump, looking at a bleak future. That is their right and everyone has a responsibility to do their part. I have tried to make a contribution by taking these pictures.’

Beat Schertenleib works as a photographer specialising in travel, architecture and portrait photography. He travels by bicycle as often as possible: for ecological reasons and because it makes it easier to take photographs. He often finds photo opportunities at the side of the road. The subject is just a few metres away, ready to be photographed.

‘Climate change affects many human beings who have to leave their homes reluctantly. The exile that awaits them often resembles a game of chess. Ensuring that the rights of every human being are respected and assisting the most vulnerable is a constant struggle.’

Coloured pencils, pastels and charcoal on paper.

Sensitive to human rights and the environmental cause, Natacha Vouilloz strives to honour them, at her humble level, in her daily life. Today through this drawing.

‘The drastic consequences of climate change fundamentally affect human rights. While the main contributors to climate change are conducting debates about personal freedoms, other people are being existentially affected. Unfortunately, all too often it is precisely those whose human rights are already being curtailed – first and foremost the people from the poorer countries of our southern hemisphere – who are affected. The drawing takes up this inequality and exaggerates it: the southern hemisphere is already submerged in ever-rising waters. A single hand (drawn in the style of the universal human rights logo) reaches out of the water in the last hope of rescue. Even in the northern hemisphere, people are slowly having to pull together to stay dry. But even in this predicament, there are people who do not see themselves as responsible. If their view is vehemently contradicted, they perceive this as an infringement of their individual freedom.’

Tobit is actually called Tobias Tschopp and grew up in Sarnen. He studied environmental sciences in Zurich and still lives and works in the city on the Limmat today. He also studies illustration design and regularly draws illustrations and cartoons for friends, acquaintances and other enthusiasts.

‘Since the menhir crisis (Obélix et Compagnie®), the economy has dominated and crushed the world, and the race for performance has only got worse. The planet is in danger. It has a bad cold from pollution, and human rights are under threat. All attempts to save the earth have failed... The Gauls have been called upon. Only one hope remains: Getafix's magic potion!’

Rafaël Monin is 9 years old. He does a lot of sport and drawing and is in the fifth year of primary school. He likes to read books about the earth and astronomy and later he wants to build non-polluting means of transport.

‘I chose this topic because it is very relevant right now and because climate change means we face an uncertain future. Never before has a generation been so concerned about the future and our planet. I am no different. How long will there be enough space for everyone on the planet? Since we in Switzerland are not directly affected by any of these problems, it is easy to close our eyes to reality. However, with my work, I want to show that, even though we are not directly affected, we also have to change our way of life to show solidarity. We are all in the same boat and we all have to pull together to make a difference, which is why I chose the association of hands and water and the rope on the earth.’

For the artistic realisation, photography and graphics were combined to create a mix.

Julia Nigg is 24 years old and comes from Chur. She works part-time as a 3D designer. In addition to her job, she is studying in the first semester of her degree in visual design at the School of Design in St. Gallen. Her motivation for this competition is that she finds this topic extremely important and has thus been given the opportunity to design something for a comprehensive topic.

"To illustrate the main link I see between human rights and climate change, I decided to paint what the earth might look like in 100 years. The main factor is that our economy depends on endless growth and overconsumption. Multinational corporations keep their workers in dysmal working conditions, so that the western world can be supplied with ever more cheap commodities that people need to be manipulated into buying through endless and omnipresent advertising. Whenever people's ability to endlessly consume gets restricted at all, markets threaten to collapse and the wage gap grows larger. Those in power need to fight against climate action and combat human rights in the name of infinite growth. If we do not replace the market's unconditional addiction to increasing profit with a more humane system, the merciless exploitation of the working class and our planet's resources will continue, until something else becomes more profitable."

Painted using « Procreate ».

"In times where we focus so much on economic growth, we tend to link the term "Business" to successful corporations and profit. This work should show that we have more urgent business to take care of, because climate change and human rights is everyone's business."