Client
Extinction Rebellion
Overview
Developed during a collaborative studio at ELISAVA Barcelona, Barraircade was created in response to real tactical needs voiced by Extinction Rebellion Spain. In a team of four – Cristina, Maria, Dayne, and myself – we designed a system that supports collective action in public space: non-violent, mobile, and adaptable.
Client
Extinction Rebellion
Industry
Identity Design & Product Design
Service
Design Concept
Editorial Design
Product Design
Content
Duration
3 months
The Challenge
My contribution focused on shaping the conceptual foundation, developing the visual identity and communication system, illustrating key components, and designing the project book. These elements framed the project as both a practical tool and a clear statement for climate justice. The challenge was to design a barrier that is functionally effective yet peaceful, legally compliant, and globally replicable—assembled quickly using accessible materials. It had to allow for different protest configurations while being lightweight, safe to carry, and impossible to overlook
The Solution
The system consists of inflatable units called Airblocks—modular, opaque forms that can be connected to build flexible human barricades. They can be worn like backpacks, easily transported to protest sites, and quickly inflated to form spatial arrangements that resist removal without confrontation. I designed a clear visual identity and illustration system to communicate the concept and assembly process, and developed the project publication as an open-source manual. The goal: to empower environmental activists with a creative, safe, and scalable design strategy.
The Result
Barraircade presents a new form of design for environmental activism—one that is peaceful, mobile, and highly visible. The project has been shared within activist circles and serves as a model for how design can strengthen collective action and climate advocacy through thoughtful, accessible tools. It highlights how design can not only visualize urgency—but become part of the action.
