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Online auction is now open for Who’s Casper? Charity project at designjunction
Leading designers, artists and architects are taking part in Who’s Casper? a collaboration between designjunction2016 (22–25 September) and British furniture company Modus to raise funds for refugees. The online auction is now open (www.whoscasper.co.uk), and proceeds from the project will benefit the charity Movement on the Ground, which supports refugees at the forefront of the European crisis.
Who’s Casper? challenges creatives to customise the Casper stool, designed by Michael Sodeau and manufactured by Modus from 100% recycled cork. Participants include: designers Sir Kenneth Grange, Tom Dixon, Ross Lovegrove and Moritz Waldemeyer; artists Jon Burgerman, Barnaby Barford, Alex Chinneck, James Joyce, Nicolas Burrows and Anthony Burrill; architects Autoban, Snarkitecture and Studio Egret West; Illustrators Vic Lee, Esther Cox and Chrissie Macdonald.
Casper’s playful design incorporates two finger-sized holes that make the stool easy to manoeuver as well as creating an unexpectedly human and hopeful expression. This suggestion of personhood makes Casper particularly appropriate for the project, which draws attention to the dehumanisation of refugees fleeing persecution and poverty and the anonymity of the displaced. Instead, Who’s Casper? stresses the importance of seeing refugees as individuals. Each participant has been asked to respond to this theme without significantly altering the structure of the stool.
The customised stools will be displayed on the Modus stand at designjunction2016 as part of the London Design Festival. The identity of who designed which stool will remain a secret during the exhibition. The aim of this anonymity is to challenge the emphasis put on known name and reaffirm the equal value of a nameless person.
Modus will be running a competition to win an original Casper stool on Instagram. 5,000 A5 cards with a blank Casper template will be given out to members of the public to doodle and decorate and upload onto Instagram with #whoscasper tag. The winning design will be chosen by Casper’s designer Michael Sodeau. Casper templates can be downloaded or picked up from top spots at designjunction including Modus’ stand.
“We are delighted to support such an important cause through Who’s Casper? which uses the talents of designers, architects and artists to highlight the importance of the individual, whatever their identity,” said Deborah Spencer, managing director of designjunction.
Who’s Casper? follows the successful Where’s Casper? campaign in May this year. In this, 15 limited edition Casper stools were sold in a silent auction to raise funds for Movement on the Ground. Each stool was sprayed hi-vis orange to signify hope, survival and the action required to tackle the ongoing refugee crisis.
For more information and to bid for a Casper please visit: www.whoscasper.co.uk