Designing with Care Event

Abiola Onabule is a London-based fashion designer. Abiola's research involves creating and experimenting with dyeing and weaving techniques inspired by elements of her Nigerian cultural heritage. For this residency, Abiola has been investigating how craft, conversation and exchange can be an act of care. Her work aims to sew together an exploration into the past, present and future stories of West African women living in the UK.

Cynthia Voza Lusilu is a London-based designer and researcher using participatory practices to engage with marginalised communities. For her residency, Cynthia is exploring mental health in Black British communities. In collaboration with artists, mental health practitioners, the Volunteer Services Lewisham and Black residents living in Lewisham, she is designing supportive tools for empowering Black people.

Enni-Kukka Tuomala is a Finnish empathy artist and designer. Her work aims to transform empathy from an individual feeling to a collective power for social change through installations, environments, tools and methodologies. Her international and collaborative practice interrogates the relationships between empathy, culture, space and systems. For her residency, Enni is exploring empathy between humans and trees.

Ioana Man is a designer and researcher working between architecture, strategic design and critical practice to develop tools, experiences and multimedia narratives that highlight the importance of microbial biodiversity in the built environment. For this residency, Ioana has designed a new body of work exploring how architecture can collaborate with biology to create a more sustainable built environment that embodies health and justice.

The Designers in Residence programme at the Design Museum is a core part of the museum's activity, supporting emerging designers, from any discipline, with time and space away from their regular environment to reflect, research and consider new ways of developing their practice.