Department of Design

Albanians are one of the largest immigrant groups in Switzerland. Although most Albanians are very well integrated, they are still heavily stigmatised and reduced to stereotypes such as the ‹HB-Hänger› character. In contrast to this stereotypical look that is often associated with Albanians, traditional Albanian clothing contains beautiful and elaborate embroidery and symbols that often have a narrative function.
«Mes Fijeve» is an interactive installation that uses these narrative symbols to tell the stories and experiences of Albanians in Switzerland. This work also explores alternative ways of re-using these symbols.