Cardiff Metropolitan University • 2023

Add & Abstract

The Art of Collaboration

Add & Abstract was a cross-cultural art and design project connecting students from H.S. Skovoroda University in Ukraine with Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales. The initiative celebrated creative exchange, encouraging students to merge their distinct approaches to design. I was responsible for the branding and website, and chose to focus not on national identity, but on the idea of collaboration itself. At the heart of the identity is the ampersand—a symbol of unity that reflects the fusion of two cultures.

To align with the project’s values, we selected the typeface ‘Closer’ by Ukrainian foundry Mint Type. Its clean, modern aesthetic suited the project’s tone, while its use supported an independent Ukrainian business during a time of crisis. The final website served as a digital exhibition, showcasing not only the students’ completed work but also their collaborative journey. Its minimal, contemporary design echoed the abstract and exploratory nature of the project, reinforcing the power of cross-cultural collaboration.