Unlock a code, take time to decipher, discover a secret.
Hidden in Plain View is a project about what characterises people - and designers - from Northern Europe, about what connects us, differentiates us and makes us who we are.
21 high profile and emerging graphic designers from the UK, Sweden, Iceland, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Norway have contributed postcards as a visual response to the concept of home, whatever or wherever that may be.
The idea behind Hidden in Plain View comes from the tradition of steganography, the art and science of writing hidden messages, which
has been traditionally popular on Scandinavian postcards. Generally, a steganographic message will appear to be something else: a picture, an article, a shopping list or some other message. This apparent message is the cover text and the real message may be held within illustrative symbols which at first glance seem innocuous.
“A man’s home is his castle”. Home is an intensely personal place and we each have deeply held feelings about what home can mean. The contributed postcards demonstrate fascinating varying responses. Whether the content of the postcard deals with the rhythms of home, the geographical setting or the physical objects found there, all are profoundly individual. The images and messages - sometimes playful, sometimes dark, always intriguing - spark emotions and trigger memories inviting us to consider our own ideas of home.
Hidden in Plain View was conceived and curated by Danielle Pender and Beth Rowson as part of Design Event 08. Design Event is an annual festival in the North East providing the public with an opportunity to see cutting edge work by regional, national and international design talent.
